It was when the pandemic began that Netflix’s Tiger King became an undeniable phenomenon all over the world. The series showcased the rise and fall of Joe Exotic and his confrontations with Carole Baskin. On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act by a vote of 278 to 134.
The Act is the first step in creating and strengthening a national policy to prohibit the trafficking of endangered big cats.
The act would prohibit ownership of big cats
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Under the passed act, possession of big cats would be limited to wildlife sanctuaries, certified zoos, state universities, and other natural habitats, not homes of private individuals.
The Act also puts a ban on the breeding of big cats. However, certified zoos or animal exhibitors are exempted from this ban. Those who have big cats in their homes as their pets will have to get them registered.
The zoos where big cats will continue to remain will have to prohibit the cuddling culture. The bill explicitly bans any kind of direct contact.
The bill will now head to the senate where most experts hope that it will pass unanimously.
Netflix’s Tiger King brought the issue of private ownership of big cats to American attention
Carole Baskin, who founded Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, and played a significant role in the Netflix series Tiger King, which brought the issue of private ownership of tigers and lions to American attention, was one of the movement’s most well-known proponents.