Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes US House - Must Now Move through Senate

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The Big Cat Public Safety Act has been approved by the US House of Representatives and will now head to the Senate for final approval. If the Act is approved, it will be a glimmer of hope for big cats throughout the United States living in exploitative and neglectful situations. The Act would effectively ban the ownership of big cats as pets while also tackling the usage of cubs by roadside zoos for selfies and other touristy attractions. 

Big cats are some of the most imperiled species on our planet. Almost every variety of big cat faces unparalleled challenges in the wild ranging from habitat loss to illegal poaching. All of the perils big cats across the globe face can be directly traced back to human interference. Trophy hunting, sport hunting, illegal poaching, habitat loss due to continued human development, human & livestock conflict resulting in death, all of these perils are a direct result of human interference. Worst of all, the exploitation of big cats at unaccredited roadside establishments that perpetuate a cycle of exploitation and cruelty.

Cubs are plucked from the wild and sold to roadside zoos where they are put on display for tourists who want selfies with the cubs. Once the emotionally and mentally distressed cubs get to an age that they are no longer manageable, they are then sold to private owners or worse, the trophy hunting industry where they'll undoubtedly be shot and killed for sport. This cycle of exploitation that profits off of the suffering of endangered species is despicable and that's why the Big Cat Public Safety Act is crucial to ending the suffering of big cats throughout the United States.

At a time when big cats face relentless perils to their survival in the wild, the last thing we should be doing is exploiting them for profits. Banning private ownership and the exploitation of cubs is a great start, but a true commitment to protecting and conserving big cats will require significantly more action. Trophy hunting is another area that must be addressed if a true commitment to big cat conservation is to be achieved. The United States continues to allow trophies into the country from animals that are endangered in the wild which includes big cats. It's utterly hypocritical to fight for big cats while simultaneously allowing the slaughter of big cats in the wild to the highest bidder. If we're going to protect these big cats from extinction, it will require a complete overhaul of our approach to animal welfare. We cannot fight for big cats unless we're going all the way, otherwise our efforts are in vain.

This Act is imperative to protecting big cats but it is only a start. We must ban trophy and sport hunting of endangered animals. We must only allow big cats in zoos where conservation is the goal. We must ban the import of trophies from endangered animals like big cats. We must funnel resources into tackling illegal poaching. As I said, if we're going to truly commit to big cat conservation, this is only the beginning of what is needed.

I will update this story once more information becomes available.

HAPPY VEG