• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home Laws for Cats

USDA Cracks Down on Abuse of Tiger Cubs

BCR by BCR
April 5, 2016
in Laws for Cats, News @ BCR, News World
12
0
Never pay to play with cubs
10
SHARES
197
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

United States Department of Agriculture Cracks Down on Abuse of Tiger Cubs by Roadside Menageries

In response to a 2012 legal petition filed by The Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, Detroit Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, Big Cat Rescue, Fund for Animals and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance making clear that exhibitors violate the Animal Welfare Act by allowing members of the public to handle or feed infant exotic cats like tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars or leopards.

“We applaud USDA for taking this first step to put roadside zoos and the public on notice that federal law prohibits using infant cubs for photographic opportunities and interactive experiences,” said Anna Frostic, senior attorney for wildlife & animal research at The Humane Society of the United States, “but it is imperative that the agency take additional action to prohibit public contact with big cats, bears and nonhuman primates of any age.”

As documented in the petition, dozens of facilities across the country routinely breed and acquire exotic feline species – all of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act – to produce an ample supply of cubs for profit. “Both animals and people are put in harm’s way when big cats are used for public contact exhibition – young cubs are particularly susceptible to disease, especially when deprived of necessary maternal care, and cubs quickly grow into dangerous predators that can cause serious injury to adults and children,” said Jeff Flocken, North America regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Big Cat Coalition Logos

In contrast to zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, “there are thousands of big cats in private menageries in the U.S., and these facilities do not have the resources or expertise to safely and responsibly care for dangerous wild animals,” said Ron Kagan, executive director and CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society. Conservation professionals agree that endangered and threatened species like tigers, lions, and apes should not be bred for commercial purposes.

“The insatiable demand for cubs and baby primates used at interactive exhibits fuels a vicious cycle of breeding and exploitation. It is standard in this horrific industry to separate babies from their mothers, and then discard them when they grow too big for handling,” explained Adam Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA.

The mass propagation of tigers in the U.S. has resulted in a captive population that is nearly twice the number of tigers that exist in the wild. “Cubs used for petting, if they survive, typically spend many years living in substandard facilities and the few who are lucky enough to eventually end up at good sanctuaries typically arrive with medical issues caused by deficient care,” said Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue.

In addition to these animal welfare, public safety and conservation concerns, “the surplus of exotic animals in roadside zoos and other substandard facilities puts an enormous financial burden on the accredited sanctuaries that provide lifetime care for abandoned and seized animals,” according to Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals.

Investigations have revealed that using tiger cubs for photo ops and play sessions can yield over $20,000 per month for a roadside zoo, fueling demand for more and more cubs – but once the cats mature, their future is uncertain. “There is just not enough space or resources at accredited sanctuaries to support the demand created by this irresponsible breeding,” said Kellie Heckman, executive director of Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Further, “the fate of captive tigers in the U.S. has serious implications for the conservation of tigers in the wild,” said Leigh Henry, senior policy advisor for Wildlife Conservation at World Wildlife Fund, “strengthened regulation of U.S. captive tigers will help ensure that captive-bred tiger parts don’t enter the black market and stimulate the demand that drives the poaching of wild tigers.”

While there is still much more work to be done to fully address the coalition’s petition to completely prohibit public contact with big cats, bears and nonhuman primates of any age, this is a significant step forward for the U.S. to improve its oversight of captive tigers and lead by example to encourage other countries, like China, to reduce the demand for tigers and tiger products.

See the 2016-USDA-Guidance-Cub-Handling

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Tags: cub pettingcubs
Previous Post

100 Reasons to Join Us at Hamburger Marys

Next Post

Mother Foster Kittens

Related Posts

Lion & Tiger PLAYTIME!
Laws for Cats

Cat Laws

May 13, 2023

Actions YOU Can Take to Save Big Cats Everyone Help us stop...

Donate
News @ BCR

Brick

May 3, 2023

WHAT HAPPENS TO OBJECTS CONTAINING DONOR NAMES? With the cats moving to...

4 baby bobcats
Bobcats-Rehab

Dutton-Kaye-Loo-Mare-rehab-bobcats

April 29, 2023

Dutton-Kaye-Loo-Mare rehab bobcats Approx. date of birth: April 15, 2023Date of rescue:...

Next Post
Coral the Foster Kitten

Mother Foster Kittens

Leave a Reply

  • Facebook Comments
  • Default Comments (0)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

Save exotic cats from extinction! Donate now to help us move our cats so we can protect wild cats from the threats of the pet trade and wildlife trafficking.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • No Zoo Cats May 29, 2023
  • Protect-Pallas-Cats May 28, 2023
  • Jazzy and Dutchess in the stalker dance. Jasmine and Dutchess tiger at Big Cat Rescue. May 25, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Robyn Enos on Dutton-Kaye-Loo-Mare-rehab-bobcats
  • R N on Dutton-Kaye-Loo-Mare-rehab-bobcats
  • Di Fleming on Manny
  • Sandra Reed on Manny
  • Audra on Manny

Protect Wild Cats!

Give to Big Cat Rescue Check out conservation projects Big Cat Rescue funds! Florida panthers, fishing cats, Pallas cats, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, sandcats, mountain lions, oncilla, margay, geoffroy cats and more.

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Rescue News

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Save Wild Cats!

Save exotic cats from extinction! Donate now to help us move our cats so we can protect wild cats from the threats of the pet trade and wildlife trafficking. Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • About BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Our Cat Stories
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Cleantalk Pixel

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.