Stop the private ownership of big cats - Take Action Today

There are an estimated 5,000 tigers in captivity, in private hands, here in the United States and only 3200 tigers in the wild. Let that settle in for a minute…There are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild.

“My tiger would never harm me. She loves me. I’ve raised her since she was a cub, and trust me, she’s tame.”

Tigers are magnificent and majestic creatures, yes. However, we have to remember that they are wild animals. Tigers can weigh up to 600 lbs! They have massive canines and can tear you to pieces with one swipe of their claws if something goes wrong. Within the past two decades, over 200 people have been mauled or injured as a result of captive big cats incidents. 24 people have died. 5 of those individuals were children. Is it worth the risk?

Taking care of an adult tiger is a massive undertaking and costly. The average cost to feed one of these big cats is $10,000. Although private owners mean well, the burden is just too much. Many private owners do not have the space or capacity required to take care of these large cats. This leads to mal-nourishment, poor health, and lack of space for the tigers.

                                           

Let's not forget about law-enforcement officials. Law-enforcement officials are neither trained nor have to resources available to handle a situation involving a large big cat if it gets loose or harms an individual. Let’s not put our dedicated law-enforcement officials in harm’s way.

"Why can’t we breed tigers under private ownership and re-introduce them into the wild?"

Many tigers bred under private ownership are considered to be generic and have no conservation value. The majority of these tigers contain genetic DNA from multiple sub-species of tigers. If we re-introduce these genetic tigers into the wild, we are disrupting the genetic diversity within the gene pool of the individual tiger sub-species. 

"But some people breed tigers in the U.S., right?"

There are exhibitors out there, with USDA licenses, that breed tigers for the cub petting industry. People will pay exhibitors to take pictures and handle cubs at roadside zoos and fairgrounds. Unfortunately, many of these cubs suffer abuse from their owners for the entertainment of the American public. We ask that you do not support cub petting activities. 

"What happens to tiger parts after a tiger passes away?"

There is evidence to suggest that tiger parts from tigers in captivity are entering the illegal black market within the United States. The investigation Operation Cyberwild led by FWS and the California Department of Fish and Game led to multiple cases of interstate illegal trafficking of endangered species and parts. If these tiger parts are entering the black market, we are increasing the domestic supply and demand which threatens wild populations.

Now there is an opportunity for you to help!

Support the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (H.R.1998/S.1381). Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress today!

We acknowledge that tigers are inherently wild and dangerous animals, which should not be kept as backyard pets or for profit in roadside zoos. We ask you to ensure the safety and welfare of both the American public and these wild cats by co-sponsoring the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act today.

The bill seeks to phase out the captive private possession and breeding of big cats by non-accredited individuals or organizations governed by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act in the U.S.

These bills would require current private owners and exhibitors to register their current exotic animals with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This will allow us to have a better understanding of how many tigers are here in the United States. 

If this bill passes, there will be penalties for violations up to a $20,000 fine and up to 5 years in jail. 

For more information about the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (H.R.1998/S.1381) and tigers in captivity, visit the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s website or Tigers In America’s website. 

Click here to download our letter template and send it to your Congressional leaders. 

This link will connect you to Born Free USA to determine who your Representatives are to support this piece of legislation (H.R.1998)

This link will direct you to determine who are Senators are to support the Senate bill (S.1381).

If you have any questions about your letter or how to write to a Congressmen, please send us an email at t4tcoalition@gmail.com and we would be happy to assist you. Thank you, go tigers!

Sean Carnell

National Coordinator

@T4T_Coalition
#saveourmascot