The Big Cat Public Safety Act Protects Big Cats and Cubs. Now It's in Danger.
Gabrielle Gilham

Captive Big Cat Crisis:

There are more big cats in captivity in the United States than in the wild— approximately 10,000 in the U.S. alone. The exploitation of big cats comes in many forms, including private ownership, cub petting and photo-ops at roadside zoos, entertainment, and illegal trade, to name a few. While there are numerous animal welfare concerns with exploitation, human safety was ultimately the determining factor behind the passage of the federal law aimed at changing the landscape for captive big cats.

Big Cat Public Safety Act:

The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which became law in 2022, was a monumental step towards combatting the breeding, private ownership, and cub petting/photo- ops involving captive big cats. It amended the Lacey Act, making it illegal—except certain exempt individuals and facilities—to engage in interstate commerce, breeding, owning, or allow public contact with, lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, cheetah, clouded leopard, jaguar, cougar, or any hybrid of these species.


Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026:

A threat to the Big Cat Public Safety Act was recently introduced in Congress: H.R. 7159, the  Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026. The name of this bill is deceiving, as its effects would primarily benefit roadside zoos, which are unethical and lack proper welfare standards and accreditations.

A few things this bill would do:

  1. Allow contact between animal facility helpers and big cats. 
  2. Loosen restrictions on importing and exporting big cats.
  3. Remove snow leopards, clouded leopards and any hybrids of these species from the law’s protections. 
  4. Allow some individuals to re-register for exemption and keep their big cats. 
  5. Exempt brokers, bunchers, and operators of auction sales from this law.


What Can You Do?

Contact your state’s representatives and urge them to oppose H.R. 7159 Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 (US residents only).

 

Must Watch: 

The Conservation Game- a documentary on the events leading up to the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

Posted by Gabrielle Gilham