A bill has been passed in the US that prevents the ownership of big cats, following Netflix's mega popular series, Tiger King.
Formerly known as the Big Cat Safety Act, the bill was passed in the House of Representatives by a a 272-114 vote yesterday, making it illegal for someone to breed or own big cats without an animal exhibition license.
Advert
Tweeting about the news, the bill's sponsor, Mike Quigley of Illinois wrote: "The House just passed the #BigCatPublicSafetyAct! Thank you to everyone who spoke up over recent months in support of my bill.
"I hope @senatemajldr will quickly bring it to the floor so we can get it signed into law before the year ends.
"... Big cats like lions and tigers don't belong in apartments, backyards, or roadside zoos."
Individuals or zoos who already own a big cat will be allowed to keep them, but most contact between the animals and members of the public will not be allowed (excluding trained professionals such as vets and conservation workers).
The bill will now head to the senate, where it will be voted on. And according to USA Today, one person who is very happy about the news is Carole Baskin.
Advert
According to the publication, she said she was "thrilled" explaining it was part of a "decades-long effort".
The bill was discussed during Netflix's Tiger King which - in case you need a recap - focused on Joe Exotic, a big cat owner and country western singer who presided over a zoo in Oklahoma.
It also focused on Joe's nemesis Carole - an animal activist and sanctuary owner who wanted to end the private possession of animals. A dangerous rivalry begins between the two and Joe is eventually sent to jail for two 'murder-for-hire' plots.
Advert
He is currently serving a 22 year sentence, and many people believe the bill being passed is in part thanks to Netflix for shining a light on the issue.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: Tiger King, News, Joe Exotic
