NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. -- The Humane Society of the United States announced this week a months-long results from two undercover investigations at roadside zoos.
The HSUS says inhumane treatment of tiger cubs exploited for photographic opportunities, indiscriminate breeding of tigers, rampant trade in cubs for public handling and dumping of the cubs once they were no longer profitable. The HSUS conducted the investigations at Tiger Safari in Oklahoma and Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge, Virginia.
The non-profit group says these roadside zoos allow members of the public to pet, feed, pose and play with baby tigers for a fee. The investigation of the Natural Bridge Zoo was conducted from May 6 through October 7, 2014, and the HSUS has filed criminal complaints and violation of animal welfare act with both the state attorney and USDA.
In a press conference, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said the investigations documented the lucrative business of using infant tigers for public photo shoots and other moneymaking events; fees ranged from $50 to $1,000 per session.
Video footage reportedly revealed the distress and abuse endured by the endangered animals used for this practice. Pacelle says tiger cubs were forcibly separated from their mothers at birth and the first few months of their lives were dictated exclusively by public handling schedules. Cubs who were tired, overheated, thirsty, hungry or sick were required to sit still for a parade of paying customers.
Pacelle said the investigations also provided a snapshot of the unfettered breeding of big cats for the exploitation of their cubs, the resulting surplus of adult big cats, and the animal welfare and public safety implications when large cubs are discarded after ceasing to be profitable. He said the zoos discard the baby tiger cubs to organizations that use them for canned hunts, other inhumane roadside zoo operations or use of the animals for body parts.
“Our investigations revealed never-before-seen abuse, neglect and the over-breeding that goes on behind the scenes at these tiger cub handling operations. We must put an end to this dangerous and cruel business,” Pacelle said.
In a written response to the Associated Press, Natural Bridge Zoo owner Karl Mogensen denied the allegations by the Humane Society and called the allegations "slanderous" and "vicious propaganda" aimed at soliciting donations.
For the full HSUS investigation report, click here.
The HSUS says inhumane treatment of tiger cubs exploited for photographic opportunities, indiscriminate breeding of tigers, rampant trade in cubs for public handling and dumping of the cubs once they were no longer profitable. The HSUS conducted the investigations at Tiger Safari in Oklahoma and Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge, Virginia.
The non-profit group says these roadside zoos allow members of the public to pet, feed, pose and play with baby tigers for a fee. The investigation of the Natural Bridge Zoo was conducted from May 6 through October 7, 2014, and the HSUS has filed criminal complaints and violation of animal welfare act with both the state attorney and USDA.
In a press conference, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said the investigations documented the lucrative business of using infant tigers for public photo shoots and other moneymaking events; fees ranged from $50 to $1,000 per session.
Video footage reportedly revealed the distress and abuse endured by the endangered animals used for this practice. Pacelle says tiger cubs were forcibly separated from their mothers at birth and the first few months of their lives were dictated exclusively by public handling schedules. Cubs who were tired, overheated, thirsty, hungry or sick were required to sit still for a parade of paying customers.
Pacelle said the investigations also provided a snapshot of the unfettered breeding of big cats for the exploitation of their cubs, the resulting surplus of adult big cats, and the animal welfare and public safety implications when large cubs are discarded after ceasing to be profitable. He said the zoos discard the baby tiger cubs to organizations that use them for canned hunts, other inhumane roadside zoo operations or use of the animals for body parts.
“Our investigations revealed never-before-seen abuse, neglect and the over-breeding that goes on behind the scenes at these tiger cub handling operations. We must put an end to this dangerous and cruel business,” Pacelle said.
In a written response to the Associated Press, Natural Bridge Zoo owner Karl Mogensen denied the allegations by the Humane Society and called the allegations "slanderous" and "vicious propaganda" aimed at soliciting donations.
For the full HSUS investigation report, click here.