Big Cat Lovers on Both Sides of Ban on Breeding

A bill in Congress would ban breeding of lions, tigers, pumas and other large cats. It's an effort to prevent tragedies like the release of dozens of wild animals in Zanesville, Ohio last year. But big cat lovers are lining up on opposite sides of the issue.

Published

about 1 year ago

Categories

US, Science, Wildlife

Topics

Wildlife, United States

People

Bob Mccall

Places

California, Los Angeles

Tags

big cats, tigers, lion

Transcript

Script[Location: Acton, CA -- April 23, 2012][Source: AP]Actress Tippi Hedren has moved on from her starring role in Hitchcock's "The Birds." For the past 30 years, she has dedicated herself to cats -- big ones -- lions, tigers and leopards -- at the Shambala Preserve in a desert canyon near Los Angeles.[SOT/TIPPI HEDREN, Actress] "Most of the animals here come from horrible situations. Basements, a closet." :07Once these tigers got big, strong and hungry, they weren't so cuddly anymore. [SOT/TIPPI HEDREN, Founder, Shambala Preserve] "If you really love the big cats, you will not have them in captivity, make sure they have space on our planet." :11Hedren says only big organizations like hers are equipped to provide the space and expensive diet that these carnivores need to stay healthy. Here no one handles them, and they have enough space to roam. Or take afternoon cat naps. (shot of sleepy tiger)[SOT/TIPPI HEDREN, Actress] "Beautiful killers." :03Hedren says there are too many big cats like these -- raised for vanity and discarded when they're too much to handle. She's pushing for a federal law to ban breeding and require owners to buy permits to own big cats.[SOT/TIPPI HEDREN, Animal welfare activist] "We're talking about apex predators, top of the food chain. One of four of the most dangerous animals in the world. Yet the US Government says it's ok to have these animals." :XXBhagavan "Doc" Antle says he loves these graceful felines just as much as Hedren. But he traveled to Washington to lobby against the bill in Congress. He doesn't believe that there are that many dangerous big cats in captivity, that it's just hype to scare legislators into passing this bill.[SOT/BHAGAVAN ANTLE/Wildlife trainer] "Most of the idea that there are thousands of tigers out in apartments, backyards or residential areas is a myth propagated by animal rights ideas. There are not that many tigers out there. There may be hundreds but there are certainly not thousands. When they say private tigers, they mean my tigers which are kept in multi-million dollar facilities..." :XXRequiring permits will just drive big cat owners underground, where the animals could still be mistreated. At his safari park outside of Myrtle Beach, you can pose for a photo with a monkey or pet a tiger. Antle says those up-close experiences make people care about conserving the habitat of these graceful predators.[SOT/BHAGAVAN ANTLE/Wildlife trainer] "Big cats have that incredible potential for danger. But big cats have the ability to operate as animal ambassadors when they're young. They become incredibly malleable and kind and easy going little characters, which is also part of the allure about why people want to have them> As they mature, they do have the potential to become much more predatory creatures. I've lived 30 years with 400 big cats... Ive never been bitten in my life, Ive never had any accidents myself." :XXHedren says the original bill has been watered down too much to make a difference. But if more regulations can prevent a slaughter of rare species like the Bengal tigers in Zanesville, or prevent a big cat from hurting a person, it will be worth the effort.RMD, the AP, Acton, California.(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: RAQUEL MARIA DILLON-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: RAQUEL MARIA DILLON ---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: AP-----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: BOB MCCALL----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: NONE ----------------------------------MARKET EMBARGO (S): NONE--------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: