I call it “cute abuse”. Cute is profitable. Cute makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Cute is good business. The word “cute” should not be used in conjunction with the word “abuse” but sadly this is the case all over America in malls and parking lots. It makes us realize how some people really do lack a sensitivity towards animal welfare. Important note: there are millions of Americans who are deeply concerned about animal welfare.
People love tiger cubs. You can understand why. They are the cutest of all wild cats. Our attraction to tiger cubs has resulted in unscrupulous people exploiting the tiger for financial profit. Surprised?
There is actual no limit to the human imagination in dreaming up ways to exploit the tiger. Tiger cubs as photo props is at one end of the commercial spectrum. Perhaps tiger bone wine and tiger body parts for medicinal purposes is at the other end because it is gruesome rather than cute. America does cute; China does gruesome. Both exploitations are disrespectful of the tiger and animals in general.
This Big Cat Rescue video explains the problem well:
Tiger cubs can be seen in cages in malls and parking lots across the USA. There must be cars, noise and fumes. Would this be frightening to a tiger cub in a cage?
At first sight, it looks pleasant enough to many people but when you think about it, it is actual raw abuse of a vulnerable and beautiful wild cat species. I am sure cute abuse it not limited to tigers. Lion cubs look extremely cute too. White tiger cubs are particularly cute, which is, actually, abuse piled upon abuse because white tigers are heavily inbred, so much so that some are born with congenital defects. They are probably killed at birth. The same can said for almost all captive wild cats to varying degrees.
People who like to see tiger cubs should really look beyond the cute image. They should think wider, to the business end of the process. I am referring to the breeding programs to create a supply of tigers (see also Tigers for Sale). The cubs are often taken early from their mother, psychologically damaging both and mother. To the business-minded people who use tiger cubs to make money, you can imagine that cat welfare is not their first priority.
People should recognise the fact that cubs are put to work when they are weeks old. It is an animal version of child labour. The cubs are not just used as a photo prop. Sometimes people simply pay to pet and hold the cub.
Using tiger cubs as business opportunities must stop. Local governments need to do more to stop it. I am sure it breaches animal welfare laws of some sort or am I being naive?
So right, Ruth. There is a lack of real commitment and passion. I upsets me because America is by far the most important country with respect to wild cat welfare. It is sad. The USA could do so much more internationally to conserve the wild cats by applying pressure on countries who rely on American business and who abuse the wild cats. America should step up to the plate but they abuse wild cats themselves.
Yes it’s time to take a stand Michael, the difficulty is getting people as passionate as we are to join a protest and we know from the anti declaw protest you arranged at St Louis, that never was, that Americans are not as committed and passionate as the people of our country.
That 400+ people who promised to attend that protest and then not even one kept that promise, proves it.
Yes there are many millions of Americans who are deeply concerned about animal welfare but they need to get together and DO something to stop the abuse of animals there or it will never end.
I guess that has to be right. Aggressive activism is definitely well overdue.
I’d be the first to march. Not that I’m a natural born protester, far from it. I just believe it is time to make a stand on some of these basic problems. It is time for change. I don’t like nothing happening when something needs to happen.
It gives the wrong message to kids as well. Lets hope they don’t enjoy the whole photo op thing but they probably do. I can’t believe people don’t complain about it. It gives the impression that people really don’t think much. The fact that zoos can still make money is beyond me. The gloating is horrible. Those poor little babies. Pity is the predominant emotion in this day and age, when it comes to animals. Those babies have been betrayed and will likely live unpleasant lives if they are lucky. I am stopping eating meat – I almost don’t but the time has come to stop again. I did it before for many years and that wasn’t for any reason or philosophy other than it felt healthy and I got used to it and then couldn’t stand the smell of meat so I didn’t want it. Now it’s going to be for a reason or 2 or more. I think some kind of agressive activism is the only way to stop it. Remember when people could wear fur coats. And then it got to a point where they couldn’t because people were objecting and leaving stickers on their backs and so on. That was success in my opinion. If I walked into a mall and saw that I would object verbally and out loud for all to hear. Perhaps that would put off people from doing it and make them think. Maybe if enough people offered some words of disgust everybody would get too freaked out by it and stay away and the tiger cub abusers would have to think of a new business.
Beautiful little tiger cubs. Humans gloating, playing and amusing themselves, as usual, at the expense of nature and animal welfare.
The video is absolutely heartbreaking!
How much further can some people stoop in the exploitation of animals?
I can’t find any polite words to describe how this makes me, a lover of ALL cats, feel.