Legal Concerns Mounting for U.S. Tiger Exploiters

A recent trend in legal cases is showing some promise for tigers held captive in the United States. As a result of the publicity garnered from Tiger King, many big cat breeders and roadside zoo operators are facing lawsuits and criminal charges. The multi-million dollar industry had managed to fly under the radar until recently, and a new wave of investigations have uncovered a variety of legal offenses. Filthy living conditions, malnutrition, inadequate veterinary care, and mishandling of an endangered species are just some of the violations cited in the growing list of cases.

One of the most interesting and potentially impactful updates has been the usage of the Endangered Species Act to bring lawsuits against these roadside zoos. PETA has leveraged the verbiage of the federal act which prohibits the harm of harassment of federally protected species, which included tigers. While these arguments are still playing out in court, the usage of the Endangered Species Act in this type of legal suit could revolutionize the battle between conservation organizations and exotic animal exploiters.

Full Story by Sharon Guynup at National Geographic