Latest news with #BigCatPublicSafetyAct
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
A baby tiger was reported on the side of a California highway. The CHP found something very different
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call this week of a possible baby tiger stranded on the side of a highway in San Luis Obispo County. But what they actually discovered was less feline and more feathery. The supposed cub was spotted along a remote stretch of Highway 166, which connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley, according to a CHP traffic log. A driver passing through the area Thursday afternoon reported what appeared to be a baby tiger on the roadside. A CHP officer sent to investigate the incident stumbled instead upon a dead hawk, not a tiger cub. The California Department of Transportation, which is responsible for removing dead animals from state highways, was notified about the deceased bird. It is unclear what caused the caller's zoological mix-up. Owning exotic animals like tigers is prohibited under California law, as they pose a threat to public safety and native wildlife, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permits are exclusive to zoos, shelters, research facilities or educational institutions. The Big Cat Public Safety Act — a federal law enacted in 2022 — prevents unlicensed people from possessing, breeding and transporting big cats. A man and woman were charged in 2022 after purchasing a jaguar cub and transporting it from Texas to California for commercial activity. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
A baby tiger was reported on the side of a California highway. The CHP found something very different
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call this week of a possible baby tiger stranded on the side of a highway in San Luis Obispo County. But what they actually discovered was less feline and more feathery. The supposed cub was spotted along a remote stretch of Highway 166, which connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley, according to a CHP traffic log. A driver passing through the area Thursday afternoon reported what appeared to be a baby tiger on the roadside. A CHP officer sent to investigate the incident stumbled instead upon a dead hawk, not a tiger cub. The California Department of Transportation, which is responsible for removing dead animals from state highways, was notified about the deceased bird. It is unclear what caused the caller's zoological mix-up. Owning exotic animals like tigers is prohibited under California law, as they pose a threat to public safety and native wildlife, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permits are exclusive to zoos, shelters, research facilities or educational institutions. The Big Cat Public Safety Act — a federal law enacted in 2022 — prevents unlicensed people from possessing, breeding and transporting big cats. A man and woman were charged in 2022 after purchasing a jaguar cub and transporting it from Texas to California for commercial activity. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
28-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
A baby tiger was reported on the side of a California highway. The CHP found something very different
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call this week of a possible baby tiger stranded on the side of a highway in San Luis Obispo County. But what they actually discovered was less feline and more feathery. The supposed cub was spotted along a remote stretch of Highway 166, which connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley, according to a CHP traffic log. A driver passing through the area Thursday afternoon reported what appeared to be a baby tiger on the roadside. A CHP officer sent to investigate the incident stumbled instead upon a dead hawk, not a tiger cub. The California Department of Transportation, which is responsible for removing dead animals from state highways, was notified about the deceased bird. It is unclear what caused the caller's zoological mix-up. Owning exotic animals like tigers is prohibited under California law, as they pose a threat to public safety and native wildlife, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Permits are exclusive to zoos, shelters, research facilities or educational institutions. The Big Cat Public Safety Act — a federal law enacted in 2022 — prevents unlicensed people from possessing, breeding and transporting big cats. A man and woman were charged in 2022 after purchasing a jaguar cub and transporting it from Texas to California for commercial activity.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officials uncover horrifying international scheme hidden behind online pet ads: 'A global criminal organization'
Spanish authorities seized 19 exotic cats from Majorca and arrested the couple who allegedly intended to sell them, The New York Times reported. A Russian couple was arrested on charges of operating a smuggling ring in multiple continents. On the island, police arrested the two suspects and seized exotic felines, including a caracal, two servals, and 16 hybrids. Caracals are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. In the raid, authorities uncovered travel documents for more than 40 other animals to countries including Russia, Belarus, and China. "The detainees sold various animal species internationally through internet portals, including white tigers, black leopards, hyenas, and pumas," they said in a statement, according to the Times. "The operation has uncovered a global criminal organization involving breeders, transporters, and veterinarians." According to Panthera, the illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion dollar market. Big cats, such as tigers and lions, are a sought-after commodity across the globe. Unusual pets have become popular on social media, too. For example, the Persian Gulf is a big market for exotic pets, with the crown prince of Dubai having shown off his pet lion, Moochi, on social media. The World Wildlife Fund found that "online platforms are now the dominant market for the trafficking of live wildlife for exotic pets and wildlife products." The World Economic Forum reports that 4,000 animal and plant species are affected by illegal trade. According to a United Nations report, it is part of a larger problem that puts over one million species at risk of extinction. In captivity, cats can become distressed and harm themselves and others. In South Africa, a captive tiger chewed through its own front legs. Wildlife trafficking doesn't just put those animals at risk; since they are taken out of their habitats and upset ecosystems, plants, other creatures, and insects are also in danger. Invasive species threaten ecosystems, human health, and the economy as well, causing over $423 billion in losses annually throughout the world. Even domestic cats are considered an invasive species, as they can impact bird species in certain countries. Do you think people should be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets? Yes No It depends on the animal It depends on the person Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Because animal trafficking is an international affair, conservationists say, curbing it requires a unified global approach," Ephrat Livni wrote for the Times. Roughly 5,800 animals, including tigers and caracals, are protected by CITES. In 2022, the United States passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which provides protections for exotic cats against trade, purchase, breeding, and possessing. Despite this, wildlife trafficking still happens. However, authorities do make stops. In Israel, officials discovered exotic cats were being trafficked with the use of heavy-duty drones. In Canada, a woman was fined $15,000 for illegally breeding Savannah cats. In 2024, a global operation saved more than 20,000 endangered animals, including 18 big cats. "Efforts to combat wildlife trafficking call for a decisive shift toward harmonized and dissuasive criminal sanctions at the international level," wildlife conservation specialist Meganne Natali said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities move in after receiving tip about bizarre sighting in residential neighborhood: 'Valued solely for the sum of its body parts'
Big cats are majestic, but unfortunately, some people exploit their beauty. Two men in Arkansas did just that, but authorities caught them. According to ABC 7 News, Keidrick Usifo and Deon Johnson were sentenced to five years' probation and a $5,000 fine, and 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine, respectively, for violating the Big Cat Public Safety Act. ABC 7 News stated: "The Big Cat Public Safety Act makes the private ownership of big cats such as tigers or lions illegal." To own a big cat, you must register with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before receiving the animal. It's estimated that Usifo bought and transported a tiger cub from a Dallas broker around March 16-18, 2023. On April 7, 2023, someone reported a sighting of a tiger cub in a residential neighborhood. Then, on April 17, 2023, an anonymous tip was posted on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's website "about a tiger cub for sale in Conway," per ABC 7 News. Usifo was arrested on April 21 after being pulled over for a traffic violation. There was a felony state warrant out on him. Investigators could not locate the tiger cub in Usifo's home, but rooms matched the ones on his Instagram with the cub. Usifo made calls to Johnson while in custody, and it was determined that the 29-year-old knew what Usifo was doing in Dallas and fed the tiger when the 30-year-old was arrested. The Big Cat Public Safety Act is not just for the safety of big cats but also for the safety of humans. According to Lions Tigers & Bears, it's a "public safety risk" to have these animals in private homes. They can injure their owners or bystanders. They can also transmit zoonotic diseases. The animals themselves can also suffer. The Environmental Investigation Agency noted that tigers are "on the brink of extinction." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In countries such as China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, "the tiger has been valued solely for the sum of its body parts," the EIA explained. However, people do not rely on tiger meat for survival or need their body parts for anything. Tigers are not just pretty big cats. They also play a critical role in protecting biodiversity in Asia, supporting ecosystems and other species. One nonprofit, the Los Angeles-based Earth League International, is going undercover to investigate groups illegally trading exotic animals. Then, they send back the intel to the U.S. The EIA is also working to dismantle the illegal trade networks. The organization advocates for better legislation and protection for these beautiful cats. You can also advocate for more laws to help protect big cats. Additionally, you can donate to climate causes doing this vital work. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
