This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a guidance making clear that exhibitors violate the Animal Welfare Act by allowing members of the public to handle or feed tiger cubs, as well as lions, cheetahs, jaguars, or leopards. The guidance is in response to a 2012 legal petition filed by Born Free USA and other organizations. “The insatiable demand for cubs and baby primates used at interactive exhibits fuels a vicious cycle of breeding and exploitation. It is standard in this horrific industry to separate babies from their mothers, and then discard them when they grow too big for handling,” explained Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation.
Link: Wisconsin Gazette