BBC Wildlife - UK 2020-07)

Educationandadvocacyencourage

peopletosupportorganisationsand

practicesthatprotectbothcaptivebig

catsandwildpopulations,butcreating

effective(andenforceable)policyis vitalto

thesurvivaloftheseanimals.InFebruary

2019,USlawmakersreintroducedTheBig

CatPublicSafetyAct,whichwouldrequire

federalpermittingforallbigcatsand

prohibitpubliccontactwithcubs.

“Thislegislationwouldreducetherisk

oftigerpartsfromtheUSenteringthe

illegalwildlifetrade,removethestrongest

incentiveforbreedingandimprove

publicsafetyandanimalwelfare,”states

LeighHenry,directorforwildlifepolicyat

WWF.ThebillpassedtheHouseNatural

ResourcesCommitteeinlate2019,anda

companionmeasurehasbeenintroducedin

theUSSenate.If signedintolaw,it would

bea victoryforbig-catconservationistsin

theUSandallovertheworld.

ConservationFoundation(FCF),which

supports“responsible”privatebig-cat

ownership,stressedtheimportanceof

maintaininga reserve-captivepopulationto

avoidspeciesextinction:“Mostpeoplewill

onlyeverencounterwildanimalsintheir

localparks,museums,nearbyzoosand

sciencecentres,”saysa FCFspokesperson.

“Educationandconservationprogrammes

arechargedwithhelpingthepublicfeel

moreconnectedtowildlifeandpreserving

thenaturalworld.”

Predatorprotection

Withhabitatlossandpoachingleading

totherapiddeclineofbigcatsacross

theglobe,extinctioninthewildmay

beunavoidable,andthereforegenetic

diversityis crucialtothelong-termsurvival

ofcaptivespecies.Asit is notfeasibleto

releaseAmerica’scaptive-bredlionsand

tigersintothewild,it becomesanethical

questionastowhethertheapexpredators

shouldremaininzoos– andpotentially

inthehandsofwell-intentionedprivate

owners– inordertopreventthemfrom

disappearingforever.

ELISABETHBRENTANOisa

writerandphotographerbasedin

California.Sheisalsobehindthe

documentaryIntheShadowsofLions.

Lifetime refuge for abused and

abandoned big cats is provided at

legitimate sanctuaries, and many

are open to the public. Prior to

visiting, it is important to ensure

animal welfare is the top priority by

looking out for the following criteria.

1

The sanctuary is accredited by

a reputable organisation, such

as the Global Federation of Animal

Sanctuaries (GFAS) or the American

Sanctuary Association (ASA).

2

Visitors are not permitted to

have contact with the animals

(feeding, cuddling, petting, posing

for photos, for example).

3

The facility does not breed, sell

or trade animals, and animals

do not leave the property except for

emergencies or veterinary care.

4

Animals are not required to

perform, nor are they used for

any commercial purpose that is

exploitative in nature.

5

The animal enclosures are an

adequate size and replicate

natural habitat, thus providing an

enriching environment.

6

The sanctuary is a registered

nonprofit, and/or has worked

with other major animal welfare and

wildlife conservation nonprofits.

7

Guests are presented with

educational messaging about

the wildlife trade and protecting

wild populations.

Seeking a real

sanctuary

Turpentine Creek

Wildlife Refuge

has more than 100

rescued big cats.

Tger:

Dav

dPu

am/Kansas

Cty

Star/Getty

TIGERS

96%DECLINE 90%DECLINE

LIONS

BIG CATS IN THE WILD

E S T I M A T E D G L O B A L P O P U L A T I O N S

100 YEARS AGO

TODAY

100,000

3,900

200,000

20,000

USA

2,330–7,000

TIGERS

5,144–10,000

BIGCATS

SOUTHAFRICA

7,000–14,000

LIONS

EUROPEAN UNION

1,600 TIGERS

CHINA

5,000–6,000

TIGERS

THAILAND

2,000 TIGERS

36 BBC Wildlife