Op-Ed: Tracy Coppola and Adam Roberts: House bill protects people and big cats

Published: June 5, 2013

By Tracy Coppola and Adam Roberts W — Fresno

 

When a 24-year-old woman at a private zoo in the foothills above Fresno was attacked and killed by an African lion as she entered his enclosure in March, it was but one of a long string of national tragedies related to the keeping of big cats in captivity.

Now, among their many other important legislative initiatives, Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., have introduced the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (H.R. 1998) to prohibit the breeding and private possession of big cats — such as lions, tigers, leopards and other species — while requiring current "owners" to register their big cats with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It is our hope that this bill will be enacted without delay — at least before another human life is lost.
There are estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 big cats living in backyards or roadside zoos in the United States, but because of lax state laws and regulations no one knows exactly how many and where they all are.

In fact, it is popularly thought that more tigers exist in private hands in captivity here in the U.S. than remain in the wild; actually, more in Texas alone than their last stronghold in the wild, India. This situation is shamefully perverse.

Meanwhile, in just the last two decades in the U.S., dangerous incidents involving big cats have resulted in 22 people being killed (including five children) and nearly 200 being mauled or otherwise injured. Scores of big cats also have escaped their cages and, as a result, been killed.

Despite these tragedies, private ownership of big cats remains legal in many states, and first responders are burdened with risking their lives in situations involving these exotic animals. The dangers are magnified even further when first responders lack proper training and resources to handle incredibly powerful and potentially dangerous big cats.

Big cats are wild animals and suffer when forced to be backyard "pets." While they require huge spaces to roam, the animals are left to spend their entire lives in cages with barely enough room to move, or they are relinquished once the novelty wears off. Sadly, we cannot simply rely on reputable sanctuaries to take in all of these unwanted animals — most of these facilities are nearing or are at capacity and lack financial reserves for more than a few months of operating expenses.

Meanwhile, unscrupulous exhibitors — including those with USDA licenses — intensively breed big cats to feed the trade, where tiger cubs and other felids are prematurely taken from their mothers in order to be constantly held and photographed by paying customers. After the cubs grow too big, they can be warehoused, sent to roadside zoos, sold as backyard pets or even killed.

Keeping big cats as pets, in private zoo exhibits or for photo opportunities with any unwitting member of the community is a serious problem that must stop.

We commend Reps. McKeon and Sanchez for spearheading such a critical animal welfare and human safety initiative. If Congress takes their lead and passes House of Representatives Bill 1998, it would be a significant step in preventing future tragedies.

No parent should ever have to receive the news that their child was mauled to death by a captive tiger or lion because they were at a facility ill-equipped to care for the animal properly and protect the workers and patrons there.

Tigers belong in Asia and lions in Africa. There is no excuse for their cruel captivity and commercial exploitation here in America.

Keeping big cats as pets, in private zoo exhibits or for photo opportunities ... is a serious problem that must stop.

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