Most of us would be aware of Netflix’s Tiger King released in 2020 which showed the inner workings of zoos and sanctuaries that exhibited and exploited big cats|viaGIPHY
The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) that garnered attention after the release of Netflix’s Tiger King documentary has been signed into law by President Biden this week.
Tiger King aftermath
Most of us would be aware of Netflix’s Tiger King released in 2020.
The series brought to attention the inner workings of zoos and sanctuaries that exhibited and exploited animals, especially tigers and lions.
Subsequently, the BCPSA was introduced by Democrat Mike Quigley in 2021. The bill was approved by the House this July and unanimously passed by the Senate earlier this month.
The Big Cat Act
With Biden signing the BCPSA into law this week, here are some important insights:
- The law aims to halt unlicensed people from owning, breeding and transporting big cats.
- Animals considered big cats under the BCPSA are, “species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species.”
- The Act bans licensed zoos and sanctuaries from exhibiting them and will not allow people to touch big cats and hold cubs.
- It allows owners 180 days to register their animals with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Failing to do so will cost them a fine of up to $20,000 or five years in prison.