March 14, 2022
Back

New Indiana law prohibits bear, big cat cub experiences - WDRB

WILDLIFE IN NEED PROPERTY AUCTION - COURTESY HEIL'S AUCTION 3.jpg
The seven-acre Wildlife in Need property owned by Tim Stark is being auctioned on Saturday. The Charlestown, Indiana campus was once home to tigers, lions, wolves and other exotic animals. Image courtesy Heil Auctions. July 14, 2021
three of three boys.jpg
One of Wildlife in Need's former tigers. (Source: The Wild Animal Sanctuary)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new law bans bear and big cat cub experiences in Indiana.

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1248 into law last week.

It prohibits a person that owns or possesses a specified animal from allowing a member of the public to come into direct contact, or enter into a proximity that allows for or permits direct contact, with the specified animal.

Wildlife in Need in Charlestown, Indiana, allowed people to pet and take photos with tiger cubs. Owner Tim Stark faced a long legal battle with PETA and the state of Indiana. He was finally ordered to give up more than 100 animals including tigers, lions, wolves, a bear and exotic birds. Wildlife in Need was dissolved in September 2020 after a vote by its board of directors.

PETA said Wildlife in Need helped set the stage for the bill to be passed. PETA said the law should mean "the end of tourist traps that separate cubs from their mothers and pass them around like toys."

The law requires a person who owns a specified animal to have a commercial animal dealer, breeder or exhibitor's license issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.



source: https://www.wdrb.com/news/new-indiana-law-prohibits-bear-big-cat-cub-experiences/article_ddc0cd02-a3f0-11ec-8fae-6f6528ce9346.html

Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.