Stop Using Tigers at the Williamson County Fair!

Wild animals are not entertainment!

This year, the Williamson County fair is hosting "Tiger Talks" (sponsored by Cigna Health), calling the act "An educational demonstration with tigers showing off their natural abilities." (http://www.williamsoncountyfair.org/events/2015/tiger-talks)

We at Nashville Animal Advocacy know that there is nothing natural or educational about wild animals performing for entertainment!

The show is scheduled for multiple performances each day of the fair, and has at least three live tigers held in captivity for the show. Nashville Animal Advocacy and many other members of the Franklin/Nashville community are outraged over the use of live tigers for this event, with many people expressing their concerns on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsonCountyFair/photos/pb.54623857862.-2207520000.1439060622./10153487517777863/?type=3&theater

The show claims it "gives the audience a unique look into the humane and responsible care and training of big cats." However, as we know, there is no responsible care of big cats that includes keeping them in captivity for entertainment purposes.

Tigers are endangered wild animals who can have territories spanning up to 40 square miles when not in captivity. Sadly, there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. alone than currently live in the wild. Keeping them in small enclosures to perform for us is not only cruel, it is dangerous. According to onegreenplanet.org, "Tigers in captivity often exhibit zoochosis, a form of psychosis seen in captive wild animals." This can lead to life-threatening situations for humans and the tigers. (http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-life-of-animals-in-captivity-versus-the-wild/)

The Williamson County Fair is also using a "white tiger," to perform, saying, "See how their natural behaviors are brought out." However, white tigers are anything but natural, and do not even occur in the wild. According to Big Cat Rescue, "White Tigers can ONLY exist in captivity by continual inbreeding," and this inbreeding "results in many defects, early deaths, still births." (http://bigcatrescue.org/abuse-issues/issues/white-tigers/)

Please join us in urging the Williamson County Fair to immediately cease its use of tigers for entertainment, and tell Cigna to rescind its sponsorship immediately.

Nashville Animal Advocacy will be protesting this event. See details on our Facebook and Meetup.com pages here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1590018271249802/
http://www.meetup.com/nashvilleanimaladvocacy/events/224498830/


And don't forget to "like" Nashville Animal Advocacy on Facebook to stay updated about more ways you can get involved to help animals in our community!
https://www.facebook.com/nashvilleanimaladvocacy?fref=ts