University of Memphis Urged to Stop Using Live Tigers as Mascots

​worldanimalnews.com/thousands-call-on-the-university-of-memphis-to-stop-using-a-live-tiger-mascot-named-tom-iii-at-football-games-and-retire-him-to-an-accredited-sanctuary/

Thousands have called on the University of Memphis to stop using live tigers as mascots. The University has been using live tigers as mascots now for over 4 decades despite outcries from activist groups and citizens who recognize the cruelty involved in utilizing tigers in this manner.

I can't believe I even need to say this but Tigers are an endangered species, meaning they are facing unparalleled danger in the wild. They are on a crash course towards extinction attributed solely to the actions of humans and yet we still can't see a problem with taking babies and forcing them into decades of servitude? 

Using a live tiger as a mascot is incredibly cruel and immoral. These animals sit inside a cage they can barely move around in while tens of thousands of people scream and chant for hours. This undoubtedly causes intense mental stress for these tigers. On top of this, attendees can then take photographs with the tiger as it sits behind a cage, flashes going off repeatedly causing it intense emotional and mental distress. There is no argument that validates the cruelty these tigers have had to endure now for over 4 decades.

At a time on our planet when so many recognized and appreciated animals are facing the possibility of extinction, we should be collectively doing everything that we can to help these animals. Exploiting endangered animals for pictures and notoriety is abusive, ignorant, and completely negligent of our responsibility to help animals. We have literally as humans put ourselves on a pedestal allowing us to disassociate the suffering of animals as long as it contributes to our happiness. How can anyone possibly think that putting an endangered tiger in this situation is in any way, shape, or form a necessity? It's not, simple as that.

The University of Memphis needs to retire the remaining tiger to a sanctuary where it can live out the rest of its life with at least some of the lifestyle it would be attributed to in the wild.  They can easily slap a tiger suit on some human who will willingly parade around the field and incite cheers and excitement. We don't need to subject living, breathing animals to unimaginable distress all for some stupid photographs. Enough is enough, retire the tiger and stop exploiting animals.

HAPPY VEG