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Members Standing Up for Big Cats

Denham, Tsongas and Jones introduce bill to protect leopards, lions and tigers

A bill would prohibit individuals from owning big cats like leopards. (CQ Roll Call file photo)
A bill would prohibit individuals from owning big cats like leopards. (CQ Roll Call file photo)

Get your leopards, lions and tigers while you still can.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act was reintroduced this Congress, which would prohibit the possession and breading of such animals by private individuals and other unqualified parties.

In a bipartisan effort, Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., and Niki Tsongas, D-Mass., teamed up on Thursday to introduce the animal welfare bill, which died last Congress.

Big Cat Rescue, Born Free USA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applauded the bill on Friday.

“Thousands of big cats are kept as pets or maintained in ill-equipped roadside zoos in the U.S.,” the coalition said in a news release.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

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