Where Do Tigers in The U.S. Come From?

Can U.S. tigers ever be wild again?

Many of the big cats that are languishing in substandard wildlife facilities are bought as cubs over the Internet – for the same price as a pedigree dog.

These cubs don’t stay cute for long. In just 6 months, they can inflict a lethal bite. By 3 years old, they can become aggressive – and owners can’t keep up with their needs.

A 350-lb Bengal tiger needs to eat over 60 pounds of meat a week as well as several acres to roam. It can also be impossible to find a local veterinarian to provide it with the care it needs.

Big cats can’t be domesticated. They will instinctively attack when they are hungry, afraid or feel intruded on.

Due to unregulated breeding, big cats living in captivity cannot be reintroduced to the wild. The estimated 20,000 big cats in the U.S. are sentenced to being caged and confined for their entire lives.