BigCatsWildCats

There are local, state, national and even international wildlife protection laws regarding the hunting and trapping of animals, trade of animals, restoration of habitats and protection of species in danger of extinction.

The Endangered Species Act – USA (1973)

In the United States of America (USA), the need to protect wildlife began in the mid-twentieth century with the increasing loss of natural habitats due to the commercialization of farming and expansion of urban areas. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provided a basic framework to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitat.

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1975)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international treaty to protect plants and animals in the wild. It came into force in July 1975 after many years of discussion about the impact of international unregulated trade on the planet’s plants and animals. The current members of CITES are the European Union and 182 countries.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (1993)

The Convention on Biological Diversity is a multilateral treaty with three goals – The conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act – USA (2019 / 2021)

The Big Cat Public Safety Act is U.S. bill that revises the requirements governing the trade of big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, cheetah, jaguar, cougars and hybrids), including restrictions on the possession and public exhibition of big cats.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act H.R. 1380 was a 2019-2020 Congressional bill that passed the House of Representatives with a two-thirds vote but didn’t make it to the floor of the Senate because the voting took place at the end of the Year (December 3, 2020)

The Big Cat Public Safety Act H.R. 263 is a 2021-2022 bill with the same purpose. The bill was introduced to the House on January 11, 2021.

Learn more about the Big Cat Public Safety Act…