Celebrities use ‘Tiger King’ momentum to push Congress to pass Big Cat Public Safety Act

“Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” is a viral Netflix documentary detailing the life and times of Joe Exotic, a big game breeder. Celebrities and animal advocates are using the documentary’s popularity to push for passage of the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act. | Netflix

Gabriela Cowperthaite, director of the documentary ‘Blackfish,’ started a petition to Congress with the Animal Legal Defense Fund

Netflix’s documentary series “Tiger King” quickly became an internet sensation when it debuted last month. Now, some celebrities are trying to use that popularity to push for action on one of the central messages of the show — protecting big cats.

A petition to pass the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act has been created by Gabriela Cowperthaite — director of the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” which prompted SeaWorld to improve their treatment of captive animals — and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, according to Variety.

The petition has already been signed by some high-profile names, including Joaquin Phoenix, Glenn Close, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Silverman, among others, according to the Los Angeles Times.

You've binged #TIGERKING. Now add your voice to the Big Cat Public Safety Act! https://t.co/Ghia6hV1Et
Proud to stand with @ALDF and so many others! #BLACKFISH @ALDF @AWIOnline @HSUSNews @peta @Voice_OT_Orcas @TheOrcaProject https://t.co/AGpAluihJ8

— GabrielaCowperthwait (@GabCowperthwait) April 28, 2020

“Netflix’s docuseries ‘Tiger King’ has become a cultural phenomenon since it was released and has made big cats — and those who abuse them — a popular topic of conversation,” Stephen Wells, executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, told Variety. “It’s important for us to move beyond the characters in the series and use this moment to put real pressure on our elected officials so meaningful change can be made to protect lions and tigers, and other big cats, many of whom are members of endangered species.”

There are currently more tigers living in captivity than in the wild. The United States has no federal laws prohibiting the ownership of big cats, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Big Cat Safety Act — which was first introduced in 2019 — would restrict possession of big cats to only those who have a license from the USDA, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Tiger King” has helped raise awareness both of the bill and the plight of big cats over the last few weeks.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said he “wasn’t being contacted by anybody about this,” before the debut of “Tiger King,” according to Washington Post. However, his office has received 181 emails and calls from constituents about the bill in the first half of April alone.

But the bill has some strong opponents in Congress, including Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who claims that the act would harm smaller, family-owned animal parks, according to the Post.

“To those who’ve become enamored by this documentary and are now advocates of this legislation, I would challenge you to do a little research,” Bishop told the Post.

Another challenge to the bill is that the legal captive wildlife trade is a $300 billion industry in the U.S., Wells told the LA Times. “With those high stakes, it’s no surprise that the industry is incredibly reactionary and reacts to any attempts at regulation.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who is the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate, told the Post that he expects passing the legislation will have to wait until after the coronavirus crisis has passed.

“If we’re able to do it, it would be great,” Blumenthal told the Post. “But the pandemic has to be our first and only priority, for as long as it takes to get through it.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2Wbwxq9