Dancing ‘Tigers’ at White House Will Celebrate New Federal Protections

Obama Administration’s Expansion of Endangered Species Act Protections to Captive Tigers Wins PETA’s Praise

For Immediate Release:
May 5, 2016

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

On Friday, PETA supporters in tiger costumes will dance in front of the White House with signs reading “Thank You for Protecting Tigers, Mr. President.” The celebration marks the adoption of a new regulation that closes an Endangered Species Act loophole, ensuring for the first time in nearly two decades that “generic” tigers held in captivity will require the same permits as “purebred” tigers—a move likely to deter animal abusers from breeding tiger cubs and selling them across state lines, as they do now.

Where:           The pedestrian plaza in front of the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington

When:             Friday, May 6, 12 noon

“PETA is pleased that, finally, the government now requires permits to sell tigers of any kind, including those who are denied everything that’s natural and important to them at roadside zoos and carted around for dangerous photo ops,” says PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet. “This federal action is a critical step toward protecting tigers around the world.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—notes that the tightened regulations require anyone selling tigers across state lines to obtain a permit or register under a federal wildlife registration program. In addition to cracking down on the domestic captive-tiger trade, the new regulations will make it harder for captive-bred tigers to filter into and fuel the black market that threatens wild tigers overseas.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.