John,
I have to believe that if most people knew the truth about wildlife selfies, they’d skip these inhumane photo ops and fight back against the cruelty behind them. Roadside zoos that breed tigers forcibly separate newborn cubs from their distressed mothers moments after they’re born, just to offer customers the chance to be photographed with a baby tiger. But once these captive-born cubs are too big for this purpose, some are illegally killed while others are sold into the wild “pet” trade.
As mighty as tigers are, they are powerless in the face of abuse and exploitation. John, I know you understand that exploiting tigers or any wild animal for profit is wrong, and that’s why I’m asking for your support right now. We have a chance to win meaningful legislative change for big cats who are victims of the cruel wildlife trade, but we must act immediately — and we need every member to join us in this fight. |
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Tigers, lions, and other big cats belong in the wild — not in cages. Big cats have complex physical and psychological needs, and depriving them of any opportunity to engage in their natural behaviors is cruel. Keeping big cats in private homes or rundown roadside zoos also creates a huge public safety threat.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to urge Congress to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would protect big cats and the public by prohibiting private ownership of big cats and public interaction. But we’re faced with powerful interests determined to stop us — which is why we so urgently need your help.
Roadside zoo owners and others who profit from the abusive trade in captive wildlife have lobbied heavily to avoid any regulations at all. If you’ve seen Tiger King, you’re familiar with Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a member of the “tiger cub petting” industry. Doc Antle’s businesses alone have spent more than $1 million on lobbying efforts to prevent the Big Cat Public Safety Act from passing.
A patchwork of inconsistent state laws, combined with limited federal regulation and enforcement, have allowed facilities like his to proliferate in the U.S. We can fix that with the Big Cat Public Safety Act, and by filing lawsuits to shut down cruel facilities that violate animal protection laws. But we won’t succeed without your commitment, your voice, and your support for this fight. Please donate today! |
For the animals,
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Alicia Prygoski
Legislative Affairs Manager
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This email was sent to [email protected].
© 2020 Animal Legal Defense Fund
525 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931 | (707) 795-2533 |
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