Tigers are majestic animals. It was a distant dream to watch them even from close range, let alone pet them. It’s astonishing to hear about tiger breeding becoming a common thing. It is estimated that around 7000 tigers are there in the US alone. These tigers are inbred. There are more inbred tigers in the US to the number of wild tigers in the world which is 3900 in total. This article is all about the Tiger Breeders.
Some may think that is cool as now we don’t have to work on tiger conservation. Wrong! These inbred tigers are not good from a conservation point of view. First, they are not wild, which should settle the argument. Second, they are inbred tigers. Most of the time, the inbred tigers are from different geographical locations and pose a big problem from the conservation point of view.
These tigers cannot adapt to environmental changes due to their mixed breeding. The reason is that a tiger from Sumatra has a different genetic makeup to handle its environment than a tiger from Russia. There are all types of people involved in tiger breeding all over the world.
- In the US, some do it to show their wealth, some for emotional support, and some for business purposes. Each breeder has a reason for doing it.
- The breeders who do it for profit have the tiger pose selfies with the visitors for a charge of $45 or more which is not bad at all from the business point of view.
- They are a favorite in state fairs and showcase for play by paying. There is a demand by even shopping malls that drives the demand for it.
- Those baby tigers are kept for cuddling and photo shooting for the visitors. Some have a bucket list to hold a tiger once in their life so these breeders help them achieve this by giving that provision through their tiger breeding business.
- These tigers are trained for circus and roadshows. They travel all over the country entertaining people.
- Breeders help to bring a feeling of wildlife to the masses without having them travel to see those wild animals in their natural habitat.
- Thus helping them to realize their dream of traveling to exotic places without having to go there. It’s a cheap way to fulfill the masses’ dream of being close to wildlife.
Problems of the inbred tigers in the US
Tiger breeders in the US are allowed to continue this as the law is by their side. The tiger breeders freely do breeding of different tigers from different countries which poses a greater threat to the tiger’s health.
Those inbred tigers suffer from various diseases than from the wild ones.
- You can see muscular atrophy, eye disease, and extensive physical and psychological damage.
- Research has found out that it affects their longevity as well.
- Those inbred tigers live a confined life which is unnatural for a tiger or for that matter any wild animal.
- Tiger breeders keep those big tigers in a cage with poor hygiene conditions.
The plight of the tiger cubs.
Since the tiger cubs are lucrative, they keep the cubs away from their mother and bottle feed them to keep them in an infantile condition then they are either sold off, used for breeding, or euthanized unless a sanctuary steps in. This vicious cycle continues. It is an unethical practice but what can you expect from tiger breeders who are solely doing this business for profit generation. These tigers are a commodity for them and thus treated in that way. The inbred tigers are also sold for profit to people who want to rear one. This also generates profit for the breeders.
Tiger breeders supply tiger cubs all over the country or sometimes even export out of the US. This is not illegal so they continue to do that.
The plight of these inbred tigers is concerning.
- These tigers live off the mercy of the breeders. They eat whatever they feed them.
- Since these tigers were brought out of their natural habitat generations ago, their food habits have changed which causes a variety of health issues for those tigers.
- They are not fed the right diet and proper nutrients required for a tiger. It cost $200 a week in meat to adequately feed a 400-pound pet.
- The tiger breeders are not trained nor do they have the expertise to rear a tiger so these things are bound to happen.
- Any wild animal should not be in our prerogative to take them out of its habitat. But sadly, this is practiced all over the US.
The danger of inbred tigers living in our backyard.
- Research has shown that inbred tigers have a higher chance of attacking humans than their wild counterparts. Why? The reason is those wild ones don’t depend on humans for their food.
- They hunt for it but inbred ones see humans as their source of food. This means that inbred ones if released in the wild have high chances of attacking humans’ settlements for their food.
- Another reason is they have become so close with humans that their friendly blow can rip your hands off. They don’t know the force of their blow which can be detrimental for humans.
- Wild animals belong to the wild but it is an ongoing debate that will need a lot of stringent rules to stop this practice of rearing wild animals into the backyard.
- It is reported that 22 people have been killed since 1990 and countless injured but this practice continues.
- Declawing the big cats involves the amputation of each toe bone, which is the height of cruelty.
- People love to keep them as pets and they will continue to breed them. As long as there is demand, supply will continue.
Texas, a suitable location for tiger breeding?
In states like Texas, it is reported that no one knows how many tigers are kept as pets. The place has a lot of open space, its enormous size which abounds in relatively cheap ranching land makes it ideal for owning one. The statement that says there are more captive tigers in the US than the wild ones in the rest of the world may not be an exaggeration after all as those reports back it up and the disturbing thing is most of these pets may not be registered at all, especially in Taxes.
Why is tiger breeding allowed?
America is a free country and the American’s notion of having the God-given right to do your own thing, including even owning a wild animal as a pet is allowed.
Individual liberty is cherished by all. The question of owning an exotic wild pet also comes under this individual liberty.
- The exotic pets are not covered by the 1973 Endangered species Act which makes it impossible to end this practice.
- There is a growing concern by some people who want to see more involvement from the state for public safety and well-being.
- The regulatory burden falls on individual states and yes, the regulations have increased, even in Texas who has between 2,000 and 5,000 tigers, but it often proves ineffective because people want to own something extravagant and exotic wild pets fit into their wants.
- Animal welfare has to be put into consideration but little is done for that. Instead, mostly tigers that are bred in the US are smuggled into Mexico.
- The demand for it encourages the breeding of these big cats. Many new breeders are encouraged to join in as well.
Here are interesting facts about tiger breeding in the US.
There are a variety of inbred tigers in the US like liger which is a mix of the male lion-female tiger, tigons which is a mix of male tiger-female lion, tigers which is a mix of male tiger-female liger. In the year 2013, the nation has its first liligers which were the offspring of a male lion and a female liger. Among the inbred white tigers are the most lucrative ones. Its cubs can fetch as much as $60000 apiece. As you can imagine, their breeding is the most sought after by private breeders, zoos, and circus folks. They do not have conservation in mind, but it is all about profit generation.
Conclusion
The big cats in the US have fallen in their population. The reason is due to aging and it is reported that many facilities are discontinuing keeping the big cats.
The spread of awareness has helped and some legislation too. The younger generation has become more informed and does not patronize places that breed and keep them. Animal welfare groups are doing their part to stop this and taking custody of it as they hear of them which is helping a lot to stop this practice. These wild big cats are still dangerous, no matter how you raise them, you may raise them like a baby but still, it will be aggressive even though they are not born wild, they are still wild. It is better to leave them where they belong for their good and the good of humanity. More animal welfare groups need to come up and stop this practice once and for all.
