Written by PETA
A Tucson, Arizona, restaurant owner has decided that the best way to drum up business for his taco stand is to serve lion meat. Hasn't he ever heard of coupons? About six months ago, Bryan Mazon, owner of Boca Tacos y Tequila, started featuring what he calls Exotic Taco Wednesdays, during which he serves up turtle, kangaroo, alligator, python, and other exotic animals. Now, in a move that we're pretty sure would make Mufasa toss him right off of Pride Rock, Mazon wants to serve tacos made with lion meat.
As appalling as this idea is, it gets worse: Those tacos may include someone's former "pet." Lion meat in the U.S. comes from lions who have spent their lives in backyard cages, zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, roadside menageries, and circuses. When the novelty of keeping them wears off or when zoos need to make room for cute new babies, lions are sold at auction, where they may be purchased by slaughterhouses or canned hunting ranches.
Mazon says he has heard from protesters and people who want to know if serving meat from exotic animals is legal. (Unfortunately, it is, if the species in question isn't endangered.) "In all reality, what I want is just people to know that I'm here," he said. "That's the way to do it." Really? Funny, because I bet loads more people have heard of yummy and meat-free Boca burgers than have heard of you. Hmmm.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
That's just disgusting!!! how can people do things like this?!
I don't think animals this rare should be eaten, but if animals eat other animals, what's to stop us from eating lions?
This restaurant has cancelled the lion tacos according to reports today. Thank goodness!
@Rossana - Legally, just about anyone in the U.S. can keep exotic animals for use in exhibits. For the most part, “owning” a big cat, primate, or other naturally free-roaming animal is as easy as applying for a state permit. Many state wildlife departments have minimal requirements for keeping these animals. Selling or keeping these animals is usually not illegal, as long as the dealer or buyer is properly licensed. For exhibitors, all that is required is licensure with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—not at all a complicated or expensive endeavor.
For information about pseudo-sanctuaries and for information on how to locate US sanctuaries accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries, please visit www.peta.org/.../pseudo-sanctuaries.aspx. Please also see our factsheet on the exotic-animal trade at www.peta.org/.../inside-the-exotic-animal-trade.aspx.
To learn a candidate’s position on a comprehensive list of issues, including animal protection, please contact Project Vote Smart at 1-888-VOTE-SMART or www.votesmart.org/index.htm.
FYI.. Lions live in the Savannah not jungles.. they are desert cats.. not jungle cats.. panthers, jaguar, tigers..those live in jungles.. just sayin..
I am as horrified with this news as I am with people raising farm animals for food. This has to stop. Please go vegan!
Does any one know if there is any plans for protesting/pickiting etc.? Would love to join the effort for support against this cruelty. Thanks
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