2 tigers seized in TX

(4/20/06 – KTRK/HOUSTON) – Officials have seized more than a dozen dangerous wild animals from a home in Gonzales.

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Also on ABC13.com:

Responding to a call from Gonzales County officials, the Houston SPCA Cruelty Investigators and the Houston Zoo rescued 16 animals. Among the animals were 11 bears, 2 tigers, 2 wild hogs and one macaw.

These animals were seized by Gonzales County under the Texas Dangerous Wild Animal law. This law regulates the keeping of dangerous wild animals and provides minimum standards that a person must maintain for these animals. The bears and tigers were taken from the home for failure to meet these standards. It is believed that Gonzales County is the first County in the State of Texas to seize wild animals under this law.

The animals have been owned since the early 80’s and used in exhibits and in performances. They have been living in transport cages in a poultry barn for more than nine years.

The two hogs and macaw were seized under a warrant for animal cruelty. Gonzales County has given the Houston SPCA custody of these animals in order to find appropriate permanent placements for them.

The Houston Zoo provided veterinary and other staff to help ensure the safe transport of the animals. The Humane Society of North Texas agreed to house two of the black bears until permanent placement could be made. The International Exotic Feline Sanctuary has given a home to one of the tigers at their facility in Boyd, Texas. The two bears and one tiger will be transported to these locations by the SPCA of Texas. One of the bears has found a permanent home at the Wildlife Reserve and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, Texas.

The remaining bears, two hogs and macaw will be housed at the Houston SPCA until room can be found at reputable sanctuaries across the country. The second tiger will be temporarily housed at the Houston Zoo until placement.

The breakdown of animals seized is as follows:

2 Grizzly Bears, 25 years- both male

1 Kodiak Bear, 22 years- female

4 Black Bears,11 years, male, 11 years, female, 14 years male, 18 years female

2 Cinnamon Bears, 12 years female, 14 years male

2 Asiatic Bears, 30 years male, 15 years male

2 Tigers, 12 years male, 8 years male

2 wild hogs

1 gold and blue Macaw

several dogs and cats

Other agencies that assisted in this rescues were Gonzales County Officials, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the San Antonio Zoo, Wild Animal Orphanage, the Brownsville Zoo and the Fort Worth Zoo.

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

an Educational Sanctuary home

to more than 100 big cats

12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625

813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

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