The Big Cat Blog

No Lion Tacos in Arizona - sign the petition!

Recently, the Arizona restaurant Boca Tacos y Tequila announced that it would be serving lion tacos as a promotional stunt.

Even though the lion meat comes from a farm in America, not the wilds of Africa, serving lion is still a major problem - it creates demand and a larger market for poachers to slaughter wild lions. In addition, lion “farms” in America are not suitable habitats for these creatures. 

Lion meat isn’t a publicity tool, it’s an outrage. Tell Boca Tacos y Tequila to cancel their lion stunt and stick to sustainable sources for their menu.

Photo by: exfordy

Thanks to cassieholman and mellonikan  for the story tip.

Photo by: whl.travel

National Zoo’s Lion Cubs Challenge Dad!
The National Zoo’s Lion pride is getting down to the business of playing rough. Keepers at the Smithsonian Zoo are gradually introducing their seven lion cubs (born to two different lionesses) to their outdoor exhibit.

Photo credits: Alex Yates

Photo by: photoverulam

Mystery continues to surround the recent big cat deaths at the Tehran Zoo.

From this article: “After animal-rights activists and horrified zoo patrons expressed outrage at the killings, authorities later claimed that the animals were euthanized by injection*, and they revised the number of big cats killed from 14 to 10 and then eight.”

*Originally they were reported as being shot in the head.

Also from the article: “No one knows exactly what happened — whether the animals really were infected with glanders, why and how they were killed and how many died. Critics immediately pointed to the poor living conditions at the zoo.”

Here are some photos of the Tehran Zoo, and here is some footage of the animals there also. Warning: some may find the photos and video upsetting.

Photo from here, of one of the two tigers delivered to Iran.

Take animals out of circuses, and let humans do the entertaining
An Animal Defenders International investigation of the U.S. circus industry has exposed confinement, deprivation, lax safety standards and cases of severe violence to animals.

Sign the petition to take animals out of the circus!

Learn more about the ADI’s Stop Circus Suffering campaign.

Photo of tiger enclosure, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. From ADI’s gallery Inside America’s Animal Circuses.

In an historic world first, Animal Defenders International has rescued an incredible 24 lions from eight circuses in Bolivia.

The animals are being prepared for ‘Operation Lion Ark‘, a record-breaking airlift to a wildlife sanctuary in the USA, where they will live out the rest of their days in safety and comfort.

Pictured is one of three rescued 7 week old cubs. Read more about Operation Lion Ark and help fund the rescue!