Hey All You Cool Cats & Kittens!!! Peanut's POV

Or should I say cool dogs and puppers; after all, we are a dog magazine. Much like the rest of the world, we found ourselves binging The Tiger King documentary during quarantine. As entertaining and shocking as it was, we thought we would share some of our thoughts on what the show did and did not show.

While tigers are extremely endangered with less than 3890 living in wild Peanut 's (population was over POINT OF VIEW 40,000 just 70 years ago), there is no such wild animal as a white tiger or a liger, or a li-liger. These animals have been created by mankind for one reason, PROFIT. Messing with genetics of these wild animals not for the betterment of the species or by a genetic specialist is in the same vein as backyard breeders who breed merle dogs with merle dogs to get a double merle; 1 and 5 are blind and deaf, among other genetic problems. Similarly, the inbreeding of white tigers causes a 80% chance of neonate mortality as in the wild a white tiger is a very rare genetic mutation that could occur in only 1 in every 10,000 tigers born. White tigers and ligers were created for the rarity and look in order to increase their value and tourist dollars.

The documentary barely touched on the subject of the BIG CAT LAW that would outlaw roadside zoos, private collectors and unlicensed breeding. While there are accredited zoos and sanctuaries that breed endangered species for the conservation and continuation of the species for future generations, these roadside zoos are doing so purely for profit through cub petting and selling of big cats.

Here in the Lowcountry, we have our shadow in the world of the big cat debate. The Myrtle Beach Safari and T.I.G.E.R.S is located right here in the Lowcountry and my dad is ashamed to say he fell for the guise of “conservation” about 15 years while walking around Barefoot Landing. He stumbled upon the Conservation Station and a porch full of baby tigers and a cage on the side with some “rare” Golden Tabby Tigers in it (read first point again). He stopped and started reading about how they worked tirelessly to conserve tigers and he was intrigued. He decided to support the cause and pay hefty fee ($65 I believe) to get his picture taken with a white baby tiger. This was before me and he had not started working in animal rescue but was always fascinated with animal conservation. Years later and well before this documentary, he became well versed in animal rescue and through working with rescue groups that work cruelty cases. he learned that there was no conservation happening at this facility. These tigers were bred strictly for our amusement and to make a dollar. Makes you wonder, if they ALWAYS have baby tigers available for tourists to get their pictures with and if typically cub petting stops around 4 months of age, where are all these tigers going after they are done making money as cubs? It was said that the original point of the Tiger King was to be the BLACKFISH of the big cat rescue world. Unfortunately, I see more people talking about buying tigers and making funny memes than talking about how this industry needs to be shut down. Reports state that since the re-opening of zoos and similar attraction from the COVID shutdowns, that attendance at GW Zoo in Oklahoma and other similar attractions have been record-breaking.

I don’t think America got the point!

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