People in Dubai are buying big cats like cheetahs, lions and tigers as pets — but many of the animals end up abandoned and neglected, according to a report on
Channel News Asia.While some of the big cats for sale are bred domestically, the majority of them have likely been smuggled into the country as part of the illegal wildlife trade.
Local zoo owner Jassim Ali Salim started providing a sanctuary for big cats 18 years ago after seeing countless animals being dumped or neglected by their owners. People buy these cats as kittens, and quickly realize how difficult it is to take care of a full-grown wild animal.
The only requirements to keep a wild animal in your home are providing room to roam, access to water, and regular feeding. But big cat owners have a difficult time providing these basic necessities, and local zoos and animal rescues are overwhelmed with abandoned big cats.
Big cats belong in the wild — not in someone's back yard. Will you join me in urging the United Arab Emirates government to ban big cat ownership? President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan:
People in Dubai are buying big cats like cheetahs, lions and tigers as pets — but many of the animals end up abandoned and neglected, according to a report on Channel News Asia.
While some of the big cats for sale are bred domestically, the majority of them have likely been smuggled into the country as part of the illegal wildlife trade. Worse, big cat owners often have a difficult time providing these basic necessities, and local zoos and animal rescues are overwhelmed with abandoned big cats.
big cat owners have a difficult time providing these basic necessities, and local zoos and animal rescues are overwhelmed with abandoned big cats.
Big cats belong in the wild — not in someone's back yard. Please ban ban big cat ownership by private individuals in the United Arab Emirates.
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