08/21/2026
I have to once more reiterate facts of captive cats, since a lot of people have bought what is being sold to the public.
Fact- The tigers you see today, whether it be in an AZA
zoo, private zoo or circus even is the direct result of over 15 generations OR MORE of captive breeding programs.
Fact- No one is going to these foreign countries and thumping the mothers in the heads and taking the babies.
Fact- CITES was enacted in July 1975 which prohibits the importation/exportation of rare and endangered species such as the tiger and leopard. I in fact am having to jump through hoops just to get our leopards BLOOD out of the country for proper DNA identification.
Fact - Tigers here in the USA have NOTHING to do with Tiger Farms in other countries, nor the rampant poaching of them in their ancestral lands. There is NO non agenda based and driven data to support these claims and never have been.
Fact- The reason tigers are so prolific here in the US is because they are captive. They are protected.
Fact- YES they belong in the wild but WE at MJEF do NOT believe in better off dead than in captivity.
Fact- POACHING means they are KILLING THEM FOR BODY PARTS
Fact- Until better solutions are found, then these glorious animals face extinction
Fact- Even though the tigers in the US may be of "mixed linage" they still hold valuable DNA because they have a diversified gene pool. And it works. If you do not believe so, then research the Florida Panther project that took TWO different sub species (Puma concolor coryi and Puma concolor couguar) to restart the FLORIDA PANTHER population and the Yellowstone wolves that took the grey wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis) and the true Yellowstone wolves (Canis lupus irremptus) and released them into the park to breed.
Fact- The captive populations may be the ONLY hope for future populations as other countries are not able to manage the rampant killings
So, do not come onto the page with the forethought of what we do is wrong. Maybe in your book it is, but I do ask that you get ALL the facts. Not jaded, propaganda, but FACTS through scientific study, which I currently do EVERY DAY, to keep abreast of the situation. And we also implore to not give us a lecture on how our tigers should be in the wild. WE KNOW THIS, but refuse to stand by idly and do nothing as they are being wiped from the planet. Our cats here today may NEVER share their DNA but they bring it up close and personal, in your face. It is one thing to look at a photo, and go "Dang that is a shame that is happening" than to look up close and personal into their eyes, hear that chuff or saw, and go.. "By God, I am going to help"
Sorry for this long post, but felt it needed to be said after we have gotten not one, but two "They should be in the wild" chastising. Please do not judge a person, place or situation, until you have gathered ALL your facts (and I mean in black and white, scientific facts, not heart wrenching, "arms of an angel" videos
