Government Cracks Down on America’s Tiger Petting Zoos and Breeding Facilities. New rules take aim at tiger breeding and petting facilities that could be potentially fueling illegal wildlife trade.
(Photo: Radek Mica/AFP/Getty Images)
Here’s an interesting statistic: There are more captive tigers in the United States than wild ones left on Earth.But exactly how many, and precisely where all of these confined tigers reside, remains a mystery. Lax regulations and loopholes allow private owners to keep tigers as pets, for breeding, and on display at small roadside zoos where the public can pet and feed them, and mostly exempt from any sort of federal permitting process.
But on Tuesday, two agencies announced crackdowns on the lucrative (the Humane Society reported can bring in more than $20,000 a month in revenue for a single roadside zoo) and potentially wildlife-endangering practices of private tiger breeding and facilities that allow the public to pet exotic cats.
First, the United States Department of Agriculture barred zoos from allowing cubs under four weeks old to be petted or fed by members of the public.
The announcement comes following a 2012 petition by animal welfare groups including the Humane Society and Born Free USA, which called for a ban on public petting of big cats, bears, and primates.
Kate Dylewsky, program associate with Born Free, said the rule change is a long time coming and short of a full ban but a good first step.
“We prioritized this issue, because it may seem like such an innocent thing—taking a photo with these baby animals—but it is indicative of a system of breeding and discarding these animals that has the potential to fuel an illegal exotic pet trade,” Dylewsky said.
The problem is a loophole added in 1998 to the federally run Captive-Bred Wildlife Registration system that exempted breeders from registering and obtaining permits to breed captive tigers labeled as “generic”—meaning they were of unknown genetic background, or were a cross between two different subspecies of tigers.
That loophole has allowed breeders across the country to breed, sell, and discard these animals without any formal record to show what happened to them. That lack of data has dangerous potential to fuel illegal wildlife trade in tiger parts, says Leigh Henry, a senior policy adviser for wildlife conservation at the World Wildlife Fund.
Henry realized the scope of the problem back in 2008, when she and fellow researchers tried to get an accurate count of captive tigers in the U.S. Their best guess was around 5,000 tigers—more than the entire world population at the time of around 3,200.
“Nobody really knows, though, because there is just a hodgepodge of state rules on tiger breeding,” Henry said.
Twenty-three states allow private individuals to keep tigers as pets, and nearly all states have exemptions that include allowing captive tigers for breeding facilities, roadside zoos, circuses, sanctuaries, educational purposes, and scientific research. Only 16 states require owners to get permits or licenses or to register their big cats.
“When you don’t know who owns them, where they are selling them, and what happens to these tigers when they die, there is no way to ensure that these tigers aren’t ending up in the illegal wildlife trade,” Henry said.
But now, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is closing the loophole, announcing Tuesday that owners of captive “generic” tigers are no longer exempt from the permitting process, meaning any type of tiger now sold across state lines must be registered.
“Removing the loophole that enabled some tigers to be sold for purposes that do not benefit tigers in the wild will strengthen protections for these magnificent creatures and help reduce the trade in tigers that is so detrimental to wild populations,” FWS Director Dan Ashe said in a statement.
Henry said the two new rules from the USDA and the FWS are an important step in slowing the breeding of tigers.
“It’s all part of this revolving process,” she said. “Breeders supply baby tigers to these roadside zoos and traveling exhibitions that allow the public to pet them, but once they reach a certain age, they’re eating $5,000 a month, and they’re no longer providing the same profit they were, they want to get rid of them.”
That leaves a bunch of grown tigers incapable of surviving in the wild homeless. Henry said many end up in tiger sanctuaries, but there are only so many openings available.
“In the past, there just has been no way to say whether or not these animals were being filtered into the illegal wildlife trade, but with the new requirements and annual reporting, we will have a better idea of where these tigers are, who owns them, and what’s happening with them—that way we can spot red flags or potential trouble spots and act,” she said.
The Fish and Wildlife Service’s final rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday and will take effect May 6.
Country Club Stops Raccoon Slaughter.
Target: Paul O’Dell, Director of Miami Springs Golf and Country Club
Goal: Thank country club for deciding to not kill raccoons as a form of animal control.
Miami Springs Golf and Country Club was planning on having an exterminator come to its grounds and kill the raccoons living there. People were concerned and spoke out for the raccoons. After the country club received calls and petitions like this one on ForceChange, it decided to end the raccoon slaughter.
Not only is killing the raccoons cruel, but it is also ineffective. When the raccoons are killed, the food supply goes up and the remaining raccoons reproduce more.
Thankfully, the country club decided to go with the more effective and compassionate choice. This is great news for animal activists and the raccoons. Sign this letter and thank Miami Springs Golf and Country Club for making this decision.
Dear Mr. O’Dell,
A large group of raccoons are living on the grounds of Miami Springs Golf and Country Club. At first, you were planning on having an exterminator come and kill all the raccoons. After public outcry, you changed your decision to a more compassionate choice.
Not only does your choice save countless lives, but it will also be more effective in handling the raccoon population on your grounds. If many of the raccoons were killed, the food supply would increase and the remaining raccoons would reproduce more.
Thank you for making the more effective and compassionate decision. Thanks to you, numerous lives will be spared.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Paxson Woelber
French Slaughterhouse Shut Down.
Target: Stéphane Le Foll
Goal: Applaud closing of slaughterhouse after employees were caught on film heinously abusing animals.
Employees were shown hideously abusing animals in a four-minute video of a French slaughterhouse released recently. This resulted in an outcry, including a petition on ForceChange, demanding punishment for the employees. As a result of activist efforts and public response, Le Vigan in the southern Gard region of France has been shut down.
A French prosecutor announced that an inquiry has been launched, and the managing company of Le Vigan also suspended the staff. They have also initiated an internal investigation. Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll denounced Le Vigan’s “intolerable practices” and claimed that employees would be “punished, as they should be.” The minister also announced veterinarians would be working with local prosecutors on the case.
However, counter to Le Foll’s announcement, an activist condemned his own lack of action up until this point regarding livestock abuse. Brigitte Bardot claimed that leaving sadistic, “perverted employees” unsupervised was an intolerable cruelty in itself. Her reasoning is due to the demand she made for mandatory surveillance cameras in abattoirs back in October after a similar video came to light.
While positive action has been taken regarding Le Vigan, there are still many problems with the management of slaughterhouse employees throughout France. However, this instance of abuse has been heard and those in charge are taking action against abusers. Congratulate the managing company of Le Vigan and the Minister of Agriculture for not allowing these individuals to walk free for their crimes.
Dear Minister Stéphane Le Foll,
After the abuse suffered by animals at Le Vigan was leaked by video online, the public rose up against the slaughterhouse. Often in such circumstances, nothing is done and the scenario is swept under the rug and a few employees laid off. It’s wonderful that such a thing didn’t happen in this instance. To hear the management company shut down Le Vigan and also launched an internal investigation is great news. To learn that a full inquiry has been launched and that the employees are facing legitimate charges is even better.
There have been complaints that previous attempts to make CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses have been ignored. I hope that this situation, along with another similar situation occurring last year, will inspire the ministry to require cameras in slaughterhouses. Animal abuse by employees is too common. Regardless, I am glad something is being done in regards to the Le Vigan situation despite the footage being “secretly” acquired.
Thank you for taking action against the heinous crimes being committed at this facility. Thank you for not allowing it to be lost in the deluge of animal abuse stories.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Boris Horvat
Plan to Repeal Animal Welfare Codes Abandoned.
Target: Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Goal: Praise abandonment of plan to repeal animal welfare codes in the animal agriculture industry.
The U.K. government has abandoned a controversial plan to repeal animal welfare codes in the agriculture industry. The plan sparked protests from numerous animal welfare activists, including a petition published on ForceChange, as it would have made the livestock industry self-regulating. This removal of current animal welfare standards would have greatly decreased the protections in place for farm animals, and would have had a severely negative impact on their health and well-being.
Had the plan gone ahead, animal welfare codes on the farming of chickens for meat and breeding would have been revoked to be replaced by new regulations drawn up by the British Poultry Council. These industry-driven standards would then be applied to other livestock industries such as cattle, sheep, and pigs. The lack of statutory codes would have allowed much more flexibility for the livestock industry to bend the rules, and the removal of governmental oversight would have made it easy for farm animals to be mistreated.
Rather than going through with this plan, the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs listened to the concerns raised by animal welfare groups, and in doing so avoided a lowering of animal welfare standards while proving that speaking out can make a difference. Peter Stephenson, a member of Compassion in World Farming, said that he is “delighted, surprised and very, very pleased that the government has recognized the amount of damage that this would do.” Sign the petition below to applaud the U.K. government for making the right decision, and urge that animal welfare continues to be a priority in the livestock industry.
Dear Ms. Truss,
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs recently decided to abandon a controversial plan to repeal animal welfare codes in the agriculture industry. This decision will keep valuable animal welfare standards in place and will ensure that animals in the farming industry will continue to receive governmental protection.
Had the animal welfare codes been repealed, the livestock industry would have been made self-regulating, with new regulations drawn up by the British Poultry Council. These industry-driven standards would then be applied to the cattle, sheep, and pig industries, and the lack of statutory codes would have greatly reduced the protection these animals receive. Without governmental oversight, farm animals could easily be mistreated.
We, the undersigned, thank you for listening to the protests of animal welfare groups such as Compassion in World Farming and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In doing so, you have ensured that farm animals will not be abused under industry-driven regulations. Please continue to work toward stronger animal welfare codes, and make the strengthening of animal welfare standards a priority.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Thunder Circus
Petition update: Bobcats are safe from hunting in New Hampshire!The NH Fish and Game Department has withdrawn their bobcat hunting and trapping season proposal! The NH Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules had pointed out that endangered Canadian Lynx were in danger of being caught in bobcat traps, which would be a violation of federal statutes. The tremendous public outcry against the proposed hunt may have played a role as well. I personally want to thank all the supporters of the petition, especially those who spoke up in person at the hearings on this matter.
I hope that many NH residents and visitors are one day lucky enough to see one of these beautiful creatures in the wild.
NH Fish and Game Withdraws Limited Bobcat Season Proposal
NH Fish and Game Department, guardian of the state's fish, wildlife, and marine resources.
HTTP://WWW.WILDLIFE.STATE.NH.US
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has decided by a vote of 5 - 4 to re-establish a bobcat hunting and trapping season after a lengthy study determined that the state's bobcat population could continue to grow with a limited harvest. This decision was made despite widespread public opposition.
Bobcat populations self-regulate, so there is no need to hunt or trap them to manage population numbers. Because they are such secretive creatures, they would mostly like be captured by trapping (including the inhumane leg-hold traps), or the equally inhumane method of hunting via packs of hound dogs.
Bobcats do not normally prey on farm animals, and are actually of value to farmers because the main prey consists of rodents which are a nuisance to farmers. Bobcats do not provide meat and their main value for hunters is in selling their pelts to China where there is a market for them. There are not many hunters in NH compared to the far greater number of wildlife watchers who wish to possibly see or photograph bobcats in their natural habitat.
The decision to hunt bobcat must be overturned. The Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules has the authority to reverse this decision because it was contrary to public intent. This petition will now also be forwarded to that committee. You can forward your comments to the committee by emailing Cheryl Walsh, administrative assistant for the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) at cheryl.walsh@leg.state.nh.us ; she will distribute them to committee members. Please note that they will be the most receptive to emails from NH residents. Please remember that the committee did not make the decision to resume the hunt, but they can overturn it, so please be respectful and polite in your communications.
This petition was delivered to:
-NH Fish and Game Department-Bobcat Season Proposal
-NH Fish and Game Department - Executive Director's Office
Patty Houde
-Administrative Assistant, Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules - Cheryl Walsh
Dogs in Hot Cars May Now Be Rescued.
Target: Rick Scott, Governor of Florida
Goal: Thank governor for making it legal to rescue distressed animals and children left unattended in hot cars.
Dogs left in hot cars may now be rescued in Florida. We need to thank the people who made this decision to let them know we are happy they strengthened animal welfare laws.
Because 24 people and pets died in hot cars last year and over double that many died in 2010, lawmakers are now allowing everyday citizens to break into cars to rescue both animals and children. Many hardworking advocates, such as those who are part of the ForceChange community, have fought to make such a reality possible. Now people will be able to make such rescues as long as they first try to open all vehicle doors, call police before or after breaking into the vehicle, use only the minimal force needed to make the rescue, and stay at the scene until officials arrive.
According to the National Weather Service, people and pets are in danger of dying from being left in cars even if the windows are rolled down and temperatures are lower. When considering all of these factors, it is apparent that making rescues legal was both smart and necessary.
Thank Governor Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers for allowing good Samaritans to rescue animals and children in distress. If we continue to support such changes, children and animals will eventually have all the rights they truly deserve.
Dear Governor Scott,
As you know, dogs and children who are in danger of dying as a result of being left in cars may now be rescued by citizens. It is great news that it is finally legal to help animals and people in this situation, as it will help to ensure that there are fewer tragic deaths every year.
Thank you for making this much needed adjustment to the law. Please know that we support you in your efforts to improve the lives of both animals and people. If we continue to take these types of steps, fewer innocent animals and children will suffer as a result of these horrible circumstances.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Lynn Friedman
