Image via Netflix //

Putting their best foot forward…

Netflix’s Tiger King truly changed the cultural landscape, changing how we view docu-series’ and entertainment as well as animal rights and the treatment of wild animals.

In a really cool step forward, filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite and the Animal Legal Defence Fund have co-written the Big Cat Public Safety Act in an effort to take action on the injustices forced upon feline creatures. The Act was introduced into the House in 2019 but didn’t get very far, but if the new petition succeeds, then a USDA licence will now be required when owning a big cat in the US. The act also emphasises the poor treatment of tigers, bringing light to how cubs are forcibly taken from their mothers, tigers are drugged, and are often killed when they are “no longer profitable”.

“Documentaries can be powerful forces for change, sometimes through a call to action and other times simply by telling a story that entertains, creating a window into a world viewers weren’t previously aware of,” Cowpwerthwaite said.“But at some point, there is a pivot and the passion of their millions of viewers lands somewhere useful”.

Continuing on “Tiger King and its audience can do that now. The world of big cat captivity requires a call to action, and I’m encouraged that through this partnership with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and support for our petition by the entertainment industry, we may see enough pressure lead to the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act.”

Numerous celebrities have gotten behind the bill in a real sign of solidarity, with Joaquin Phoenix, Iggy Pop, Christopher Walken, Ruby Rose, Rooney Mara and countless more showing support. Let’s hope this gets passed so the world doesn’t get any more Joe Exotics…