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Despite protests, big cat show finds a place at Tulsa State Fair
Changes at Tulsa fair mean a few surprises
Thu September 25, 2008
TULSA — After initially deciding to cancel a big cat show planned for the Tulsa State Fair, Expo Square’s top official said Wednesday the show is back on.
Mark Andrus, Expo Square’s interim president and chief executive officer, said his initial decision to cancel the show had nothing to do with protests from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
“The decision to cancel the Great Cat Adventures exhibit at the Tulsa State Fair was based on scarcity of space at the fairgrounds due to many new attractions that were booked,” Andrus said in a statement.
“However, since the animals have already been transported to Tulsa, we felt an obligation to find space for this exhibit.”
The fair starts today.
Great Cat Adventures is a company that displays leopards, tigers and other large cats. Before the $11,000 contract was initially canceled, PETA spearheaded an e-mail campaign protesting the display.
The company has crisscrossed the nation for about 20 years with cats of several species, said company spokesman Wayne Edwards.
Most customers are drawn by the chance to bottle-feed and take photos with a tiger cub, he said.
“It’s very safe; it’s very controlled; and the cubs we have (with which the public interacts) are 3 months old at the oldest. They’re not real large cats,” he said.
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Learn more about big cats in captivity and Big Cat Rescue: http://bigcatrescue.org
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