Stressed Tigers Forced To Perform At Carver County Fair In Minnesota; Take Action To End This!
Karen Lapizco
On August 10th, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) attended the Carver County Fair Tiger Encounter exhibit to witness firsthand how the big cats were being treated in a show that claims to raise awareness about the plight of tigers in the wild and their rapid rate to extinction. Instead, this show and others like it, only perpetuate the cruel treatment of captive wild animals.
”The heartbreaking cruelty, fear of punishment, confinement, and blatant danger on display at the Carver County Fair’s Tiger Encounter is a recipe for disaster. No wild animal should ever be forced to entertain the public and to experience the treatment I witnessed,” said Zack Eichten, Minnesota state director for HSUS, about the “appalling display.”
Just over a century ago, 100,000tigers roamed across Asia. Now, they are on the brink of extinction with less than 4,000 remaining inthe wild. Sadly, there are an estimated 5,000 captive tigers in the United States.
According to HSUS, tigers suffer a life of captivity in roadside zoos, circuses, and private homes across the country. No one knows exactly how many captive tigers are in the United States, as no federal agency keeps track of these animals. The vast majority of captive tigers spend their lives in cruel conditions where they cannot express their natural behaviors.
“The animals were visibly stressed, forced to perform, going from one small platform to another, surrounded by loud music and large noisy crowds at every turn. They were in an extremely confined space made of a temporary fence with a flimsy mesh roof,” continued Eichten. “They were pacing, confused, and looking for a way out, and the trainer used the threat of a whip to manipulate them. Fairgoers could then pay $5 to feed them after the performance.”
“These are wild animals and this is downright cruel. Their health and well-being are obviously not a consideration here, or at the other shows just like it around the country. The public was just a few feet away from the tigers, who remain dangerous wild animals, who could escape, injure someone, or worse,” concluded Eichten. “The Carver County Fair Board must do the right thing and stop supporting the abuse of animals by promoting traveling animal acts and stop putting the community in danger.”
