HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – If you own an exotic animal that is illegal to own in Hawaii, you are encouraged to surrender it to the state rather than letting it run free.

The Ministry of Agriculture held an event at its plant quarantine office in Kalihi yesterday to inform the public about its amnesty program.

Exotic snakes and lizards are among the types of animals you can surrender without penalty or questions asked.

“We have this program so people don’t feel afraid, so they don’t feel like they’re, you know, forced to bring these animals in, and there will be repercussions because we just want to let people do it. feel comfortable, like they know that they don’t have, that they have something that they’re not supposed to have and they’re going to the right places to be able to give it back.

The state says the returned animals will not be euthanized and could instead be sent to a zoo or educational facility on the mainland.

Harboring an illegal animal is punishable by jail time and fines of up to $200,000.

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