The End of the Tiger King's Reign

Netflix's Tiger King documentary captivated audiences with dramatic characters and a bizarre murder-for-hire plot at one of the most infamous roadside zoos in the United States. The truth about big cat ownership in the U.S. is much darker than what Netflix portrayed. Right now, there are more tigers living in American backyards than in the wild. This is harmful for big cats and potentially dangerous for unsuspecting neighbors. What is the U.S. government doing to solve this? Enter: the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

Big cats need bipartisan support.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act is a bill that revises regulations governing the trade of big cats, further restricting possession and exhibition. This includes limiting big cats' direct contact with the public. The bill passed the House in December 2020, but did not receive a vote in the Senate. Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, reintroduced the bill on January 11, 2021.

The roar next door.
If you were on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon you might have heard Cheryl Jones and Steve Higgs' lions roaring at dusk. At one point, they owned more lions than the Oregon Zoo. For almost a decade, PETA tracked the government citations Higgs amassed, often related to safety and welfare. They are far from the only current or former big cat owners, with tigers being a popular family addition. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that there are roughly 3,500 tigers remaining in the wild. Contrast that number with an estimated 5,000 tigers in captivity in the United States. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 94% are privately owned, like "Ming" who lived in a cramped New York City apartment for more than two years.

Private ownership rarely ends well.
Terry Thompson was well-known to animal rights activists and Ohio state officials. His private collection of exotic animals had attracted as much government attention as his stash of illegal weapons. In October 2011, in the midst of a mental health crisis, he released more than 50 animals onto an unsuspecting public. In total, 38 big cats (tigers, lions, and cougars), eight bears, two wolves, one baboon, and one macaque were killed by the police. Some question whether lethal force was necessary. Others ask, why was a private citizen allowed to own so many feral animals?

Tell Congress to pass the bill. Has your representative cosponsored the bill? You can check which members, by political affiliation and location, have cosponsored the Big Cat Public Safety Act by clicking on the "cosponsors" tab here. If you do not see your member listed, you can find their contact information here. Tell them why this issue matters to you. If you need drafted language, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has you covered.