Born Free USA is alarmed by news reports of a tiger found in a vacant home in Houston, Texas. Like so many wild animals held in captivity as pets, the tiger lived in deplorable conditions. She was housed in a dark garage in a dirty cage that was too small and flimsy to accommodate her. When found, she was thirsty, confused, and frightened, and is likely malnourished despite packages of meat found nearby. We thank Houston law enforcement for helping her and assisting in her rehoming.
There are an estimated 10,000 – 20,000 big cats, such as tigers, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, in captivity in the United States. Many face conditions similar to those of the Houston tiger: cramped and filthy cages, inadequate food, and neglect. And, even in cases where conditions are relatively “good,” captive conditions always pale in comparison to life in the wild and fail to meet the animals’ needs. In Texas alone, there are thought to be 2,000 – 7,000 captive tigers, which rivals or surpasses the number of tigers currently living in the wild in their natural habitats, estimated to be around 4,000.
At Born Free USA, we advocate for the welfare of tigers on numerous fronts. We campaign to keep big cats out of private hands by promoting legislation such as the Big Cat Public Safety Act and by educating the public about the cruelty and danger of exotic pet ownership, circuses, cub petting, and other venues and activities that exploit these animals.
Globally, Born Free works to protect tigers in the wild. The Living with Tigers initiative focuses on tiger conservation in India and works to tackle the poaching crisis, safeguard tiger habitats, and find conservation interventions for communities and wildlife to live together peacefully. We work with local villagers – Tiger Ambassadors – who are trained to identify signs of tiger presence in their area and to assist if conflict occurs. We also employ a Mobile Education Unit, which visits local schools to teach children about wildlife conservation.
Wild animals like tigers belong in the wild, not in private homes.
We invite animal-lovers to join us in our fight to keep wildlife in the wild and to protect the wild places these animals call home.