Bill Introduced to Declaw Big Cat Protections

The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA), enacted in 2022, ushered in historic protections for lions, tigers, and other big cats. However, a new bill in Congress, HR 7159, seeks to weaken these hard-won protections and line the pockets of special interests at the expense of big cats and public safety.

The BCPSA protects communities from dangerous encounters with big cats kept as pets and safeguards these animals against the appalling cruelty associated with exploitative “cub petting” operations and the exotic pet trade. HR 7159 would add massive loopholes to the BCPSA, benefitting those who wish to once again profit off cub-petting encounters, import big cats, and/or sell big cats as “exotic animal dealers,” all of which fundamentally undermine a law that positions the United States as a leader in combatting the dangerous, abusive big cat pet trade. 

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