Threat #1: Pay-To-Pet Operations
This is what a “Mall Act” or a “Pay-to-Pet” operation looks like. These makeshift operations involve cubs because gaps in regulations by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow it by a small margin of four weeks. Cubs are torn away from their mothers at eight weeks, thus imprinting on humans, and unable to be placed in the wild. By 12 weeks, they are deemed too dangerous to be used in public. These animals are raised in unfit living conditions, bred to expand operations, and are killed for profit when they grow too large, as their body parts are valuable in illegal markets.Get Involved
Never pay-to-pet! It does not support conservation in the wild. These operations are solely for-profit. Always remain suspicious of animal sideshows, petting zoos, and pay-to-pet operations. Engage the operator politely and ask productive questions such as:- How old are the cubs?
- What happens to the animals after their work day?
- Where do the animals live?
- What kind of training does one need to handle these types of animals?
- What kind of training do you have?
Are you aware of a pay-to-pet operation near you? If you suspect neglect or abuse, call your local Animal Control Office (ACO) and express your concern. The ACO was created to protect animals, and they want to be informed of public concerns.
Threat #2: The Exotic Pet Trade
There is a large population of big cats that are affected by the exotic pet trade in the United States. They are popular among the affluent, as they are a status symbol (albeit a shallow one), and popular among those who claim to “love” them.Big cats that are kept as pets are innocent victims who suffer under their owner’s vanity. They grow up, are kept in confinement, and seized once they become problematic. They are often euthanized, or killed when they escape, as they become a hazard to the public. Who can forget the Zanesville massacre? Unfortunately, this is not an issue that we can rescue our way out of.
Get Involved
Sanctuaries, and rescues alike, are reaching their capacity and financial limits. The only way out for the big cats is to change and create new policies. Until then, we can do our best to help support the rescues by donating, purchasing items on wish lists, and/or symbolically adopting big cats. You can symbolically adopt a big cat like Alexander, who was purchased as a baby for $2,500 by a family. If it weren’t for an appeal from the SPCA of Houston, he would have never reached the PAWS wildlife sanctuary. This is one of many examples of animals suffering in the exotic pet trade.Threat #3: Loss of Habitat
When big cats and loss of habitat are mentioned, Sumatran Tigers immediately come to mind. In 1978, there were more than 1,000 Sumatran tigers, now there are less than 400. This is because of poaching and the loss of their habitat due to the palm oil industry. The problem with the palm oil industry is that forests, where the tigers live, are cleared out to make way for plantations.With nowhere to go, the big cats become a menace to locals, killing cattle and livestock. Sumatran tigers are poached for their use in traditional Chinese medicine and killing them earns better pay than other jobs that are available to poachers.
Get Involved
Through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), you can make a donation, or symbolically adopt a tiger. You can also sign this petition urging Indonesia to save 30 Hills, a lush rainforest in Sumatra. The goal is to re-zone this land so that the land can be leased to conservationists or turned into a national park. Let your wallet be your voice and become a conscious consumer by only purchasing paper that is 100 percent recycled or FSC certified.Big cats need our help. By supporting the sanctuaries that rescue them, by taking action alongside the organizations that influence policy and by becoming a conscious consumer, we can make a difference in their future. After all, their future is also our future.
Image Source: Sascha Kohlmann/Flickr
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