Big cats are suffering in captivity – we must make it end

WE'RE CALLING FOR A ROAR-FREE UK

Dear John,

Beloved and revered the world over, big cats are commonly displayed in zoos and other wild animal exhibits because of our desire to see them in the flesh, despite the toll this takes on the animals themselves. They are clawing at the cages.

Lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, pumas and cheetahs are all suffering in zoos, living in cramped enclosures, unable to live natural lives and subject to totally unsuitable conditions – we must make this stop.

SIGN OUR PETITION FOR A ROAR-FREE UK

Last week, Born Free released a new report, Clawing at the Cages: The Problem with Keeping Big Cats in Zoos, which exposes the truth the zoo industry doesn’t want you to hear – despite their claims, the keeping of big cats in zoos serves no real conservation purpose.

READ THE REPORT

We launched the report with a live event in London, with Born Free patrons Kirsty Gallacher, Amanda Holden and Jenny Seagrove locked in a cage, to encourage onlookers to think about what life must be like for captive big cats.

Amanda Holden at the Clawing at the Cages launch

While compiling this report, I was disgusted by what I saw – from the depravation and distress that causes big cats to pace incessantly, to the horrific stories of young healthy cubs killed just because they are surplus to requirements, and the deaths of animals from unsuccessful breeding attempts to satisfy the demand from zoo breeding programmes.

Like so many other animals in zoos, big cats are rarely, if ever, released into the wild; they are simply forced to breed, sometimes with fatal consequences, generation after generation, so paying visitors can observe them in captivity and so zoos can profit. 

That’s why we’re calling on the UK government to phase out the keeping of big cats in zoos for good – a Roar-Free UK is possible, but we need your help to show the government that the British public do not support the cruel captivity of these awe-inspiring animals.

SIGN THE PETITION

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH ZOOS?

Big cats in captivity face a myriad of issues, including lack of space, with an average enclosure size 40,000 times smaller than their median range in the wild; demonstrating stereotypical behaviours and signs of stress; and being subject to ongoing breeding programmes which contribute almost nothing to conservation, with the vast majority never having any hope of release to the wild.

You can read more about these issues on our Roar-Free UK campaign page.

A lioness at Chester Zoo

HOW YOU CAN HELP

By signing our Roar-Free UK petition, you can show the UK government that you don’t support the exploitation of big cats in zoos. Their suffering must end as soon as possible.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW

Thank you for your support, and for joining us in the fight for freedom for all wild animals.

Chris Lewis

Captivity Research & Policy Manager
Born Free

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Images © Aaron Gekoski, PinPep / Joe Pepler

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