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"The main reason for all of these cats in backyards and basements and garages across America is that it's legal for people to have their picture taken with a cute little tiger cub or lion cub." Carol Baskin CEO of Big Cat Rescue
Recent statistics show that more tigers are kept as pets in America than roam free in the wild. Activist are outraged and more importantly concerned about the health and well being of these magnificent animals. While only 3,000 tigers inhabit forests in Russia and Asia, the U.S. has as many as an estimated 5,000 tigers being held captive in small cages, basement and garages. These Tiger cubs are brought into the United States and are quickly bought by mostly wealthy people looking for something to stand out in the crowd and also to have a ego boost when friends, family and colleagues come to their home to admire and interact with these exotic animals. Another buyer for these Tiger cubs are roadside carnivals, or small zoo's where they can make a fast buck having the cub pose with patrons for pictures. Unfortunately for these get rich quick artist, most Tiger cubs are only manageable until they're about 12 weeks old. Baskin says, "By the time they're 13 weeks old, the people who are using them for these photo booths find that it costs $10,000 a year to take care of them, so they give them away. They sell them." In an effort to change this pattern, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is partnering with other animal protection organizations like Big Cat Rescue with a common goal to ask congress to pass The Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act. The act would end private possession and breeding of various big cats. |
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