Stop Exploitation of Wild, Exotic Animals at T.I.G.E.R.S. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

Please sign and share this petition in an effort to get the local state animal care, animal and plant health inspection service (APHIS) and the U. S. Department Of Agriculture to stop the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station and Safari in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from exploiting wild, exotic animals. T.I.G.E.R.S. is an organization known as the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species. Many organizations will do anything to exploit and use wild, exotic animals in shows for pleasure and monetary gain, despite the abuse these creatures endure for such showings, safaris and other animal shows.

Everyone enjoys getting close and personal with animals that may only be seen in zoos, books and on the television, so who wouldn't jump at the chance to go on a safari in order to see and possibly feed a wild tiger in person? Tigers, as cute and cuddly as they may look, are wild animals; animals that are highly endangered. In fact, some of the tiger species are a rarity in their wild, natural habitats.

An organization known as the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species or T.I.G.E.R.S. offers safaris where people can get very close to tigers and ligers, pose for photos with them, and bottle feed the young. T.I.G.E.R.S. actually breeds these animals specifically for profit, making many of them unsuitable to return to their natural habitats. These animals are like prisoners for guest pleasures, while being viewed in tiny enclosures, most of the young are removed from their moms to pose for pictures and perform for shows, fairs, movies and directors. T.I.G.E.R.S. has violated USDA laws and regulations many times, showing a disregard for animal welfare. The animals here live a life centered around being profit generators, plain and simple.

There are an estimated 120 wild and exotic animals at this facility in South Carolina, 60 of which are rare and endangered. These animals are either taken from the taken from the wild or bred in captivity. One animal, Bubbles the African Elephant, was taken as an orphan after its mom was killed by poachers and then trained to be in movies and other productions not natural for such a beautiful, sad being. Their large cat, Hercules is a cross between a male lion and female tiger, something that would never occur in the wild. Often times, this crossbreeding results in abnormalities, growing to larger sizes and typically shorter life spans. Such breeding only serves to create more captive animals for human entertainment and greater profits, putting animals' lives in danger. They never could survive in their natural habitats.

These animals are living in very unnatural surroundings, being required to do unnatural things for guests and viewers simply for fun and profit, despite the numerous USDA violations. We need to consider the overall well-being and stress placed on each animal at T.I.G.E.R.S. in South Carolina and any of their other facilities that exploits them for fun and profit! Please sign and share this petition in an effort to get the local state animal care, animal and plant health inspection service (APHIS) and the U. S. Department Of Agriculture to stop the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station and Safari in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from exploiting wild, exotic animals. T.I.G.E.R.S. is an organization known as the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species. Many organizations will do anything to exploit and use wild, exotic animals in shows for pleasure and monetary gain, despite the abuse these creatures endure for such showings, safaris and other animal shows.