Jackpot! Las Vegas Is Getting Kinder to Animals

Place your bets on progress—because Las Vegas is starting to deal animals a better hand. In the City of Lights, the spotlight is dimming on live-animal acts and other cruel displays, while support for animal-free entertainment is on the rise. While there’s still work to do to make Vegas entertainment truly animal-free, these victories prove that compassion is winning big.

The Mirage Retired Big Cats to Sanctuaries

Following months of behind-the-scenes talks with PETA, The Mirage in Las Vegas moved the big cats from Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden—where they were confined and displayed for visitors to gawk at—to two reputable sanctuaries. With the end of big-cat exploitation at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden, dangerous and cruel animal-exploiting spectacles have all but done a disappearing act from the Strip.

Infamous Orangutan Exploiter Exposed, Show Closed

In 1990, PETA released shocking backstage footage of now-disgraced Vegas entertainer Bobby Berosini violently beating and shaking the orangutans whom he forced to perform. The exposé led to the collapse of his act and the suspension of his wildlife permit. Plus, PETA won a lawsuit against the infamous exhibitor, who was ordered to pay us more than $650,000.

Not only did our action force Berosini out of the ape-exploiting business, but it also marked a huge blow to the use of great apes in entertainment. Today, forcing chimpanzees and orangutans to perform is virtually a thing of the past—only rarely seen at tourist traps abroad—thanks to growing public awareness and relentless advocacy.

Westgate Resort Nixed a Cruel Big-Cat Act

After more than 15,000 PETA supporters urged Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino to cut ties with Dirk Arthur—a known big-cat abuser—the resort removed his cruel act from their scheduled shows. Arthur had been cited for keeping big cats in metal cages with no protection from the scorching sun when temperatures reached 127 degrees and for confining a tiger to a filthy enclosure with a buildup of animal waste.

Prior to this victory, Vegas landmarks like Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand had already nixed Arthur’s act from their casinos, while other magicians, such as Kirby Van Burch and Rick Thomas, had retired big cats from their shows—so the win at Westgate effectively marked an end to the use of big cats in performances on the Las Vegas Strip.

Following Arthur’s death, the cats he exploited were retired from showbiz.

MGM Grand Ended Its Big-Cat Display

In 2011, after a major push from PETA, MGM Grand shut down its cruel and dangerous lion exhibit. The exhibitor, Keith Evans, confined lions to an artificial enclosure surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, offering no privacy and no escape from the constant crowds. The stressful, unnatural conditions led to at least two attacks on handlers. PETA successfully urged the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration to cite and fine Evans for multiple workplace safety violations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also cited him for allowing two lion cubs to be declawed—a painful procedure that causes them lifelong physical damage.

This victory helped expose the danger and cruelty of big-cat displays, which are now dwindling nationwide.

Seedy Las Vegas Zoo Closed

In 2013, the Las Vegas Zoo—a shoddy facility that confined 150 animals on just three acres of land—closed its doors after all its zookeepers mysteriously quit. This victory followed PETA’s urging of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revoke the facility’s license after a 10-year-old lion named Midas died after eating a ball that had been thrown into his enclosure from a nearby store. We were also instrumental in helping the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration successfully prosecute and fine the operation for allowing employees to have dangerous direct contact with macaques.

Following the closure, PETA helped secure the transfer of its lone chimpanzee, Terry, to an accredited sanctuary. At Save the Chimps, Terry has a lush habitat to explore, friends to play with, and the freedom to do as he pleases.

Vegas Authorities Gave Jeff Lowe the Boot

Following complaints from PETA that Tiger King villain Jeff Lowe was reportedly selling public interactions and photos with big cats, local law-enforcement officials raided his Las Vegas home and confiscated two tiger cubs and a solitary lemur. This led to charges of three counts of unlawful possession of wild animals. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the city and was issued a suspended jail sentence and a “stay out of trouble” order. 

This was one of many victories against Lowe, who was found liable under the Endangered Species Act at trial in a case brought by PETA and is now barred from ever again exhibiting animals to the public in the U.S. and from regaining custody of the animals whom authorities confiscated from him.

Tiger Exploiter Scuttles Plan to Cage Tigers in Vegas Circus Tent

After hearing roars from PETA, CompassionWorks International, and more than 51,000 kind supporters, tiger exploiter Jay Owenhouse withdrew his application to confine three tigers in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip for a yearlong tiger magic show.

The withdrawal occurred just before the Clark County Board of County Commissioners was set to vote on Owenhouse’s land use application, which would have determined whether he could store three tigers in metal cages near the Strip, subjecting them to oppressive heat as well as distressing noise and activity from adjacent condominium buildings, a monorail station, and several lanes of heavy traffic.

After his animal-exploiting show was canceled, Owenhouse’s revised plan for a tiger-free magic show was approved.  

Nevada Governor Signed Bill to Ban Cub-Petting and Elephant Rides in the State

In 2021, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed the “Tiger King” bill into law, which bans public contact with big cats, elephants, primates, wolves, bears, and hyenas. Thanks to this bill, the cruel entertainment industries in Nevada—including abusive circuses like Jordan World Circus—have a much harder time exploiting animals for a living. 

No More Gambling With Animals’ Lives—Help Us Achieve More Progress in Las Vegas!

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there—and that includes animal-exploiting stunts and exhibits. Audiences want to be dazzled by animal-free entertainment, from animal-free magic shows to human contortionists and more. Vegas has no shortage of willing human entertainers—there’s no justification to exploit animals for any reason.

While Sin City is getting more animal-friendly, some exhibitors still use snakes as photo props on the Strip. Additionally, roadside zoos and other cruel tourist traps like One World Interactive Aquarium—formerly SeaQuest Las Vegas—still put animals on display and force them into stressful, unnatural interactions with the public. Take action now to help animals suffering at interactive aquariums: