Tiger numbers
in United States
- debunked-
Detailed research shows that captive tiger population in
United States at all time low - Current regulations working strong.
- No -
- uninvolved member of the public has been seriously injured by an escaped exotic cat in the last decade.
- No -
- uninvolved person has been killed by an escaped exotic cat in the last 25 years, and this time span probably extends much further.
- Today -
- all but three states have regulations that have contributed to the decline of such incidents.
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It would appear that the far-left animal extremist are proof to the famous quote:
“An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.”
“Google' is not a synonym for 'research'.”
Good research entails grappling with dissonances and discrepancies arising from inconsistent views. While good research certainly defies simple conceptualization, it is this process of constant reflection, negotiation, and interpretation of solid facts that renders the research process fluid , dynamic, and accurate in order to make sound decisions.
On November 15, 2019, National Geographic (NatGeo) released an online story “Captive tigers in the U.S. outnumber those in the wild. It’s a problem”, written by Sharon Lee Guynup, 61 and photographs by Steven Winters, 63, both living in Hoboken, NJ and describe themselves as “life-partners”.
The grossly inaccurate (NatGeo) report on tigers in the United States.
The National Animal Welfare Association, (NAWA) which is a member based organization of animal professionals, regulated conservation professionals, veterinarians, zoological experts and others which promotes advancements in animal care that exceed the regular standards.
NAWA believes to be able to make solid, well defined, rational, and expert decisions in animal care professionals must have reliable and creditable information and research to be able to make such decisions and determinations.
NAWA believes that creditable and non-bias information, (wether good or bad) should always be the corner stone of any such reports, information or claims. NAWA believes that this white-paper is necessary to examine the NatGeo story and it's sources and to clarify the position of NAWA of this topic.
We have looked at Guynup's story in two seperate lights: Their Sources, and the Actual Facts and Numbers.
Quick Contents:
"Their Sources:"
After reviewing this story by Ms. Guynup and Mr. Winters, NAWA found the information printed to be, at best, incredibly flawed, highly inaccurate, and massively biased and un-creditable. On Ms. Guynup’s facebook page she claims that her story was the result of a 2 year investigation. NAWA experts found this to be even more disturbing as absolute none of the easily obtained and available information and statics that refute over 90% of the claims the story reports on.
Staged / Provoked ?
On December 26, 2019, Steve Winters, (the photographer mentioned above ) was at it again. Interestingly enough he claims that he was “jumped” by a tiger at a sanctuary during the photo shoot that he is currently working on, (The Tiger Next Door). We spoke with member expects that were familiar with this tiger, which had a reputation as being a “hot cat”, (zoo keeper slang for a big cat that has a very hard to handle personality).
Mr. Winters was aware of this, “Hot Cat”, but coerced the current owner to let him photograph it outside its enclosure. The zoo experts we spoke with immediately called this to our attention:, “Why in the world would he beg the owner/handler to bring that cat, (knowing its reputation) outside it’s enclosure, and at the same time have someone there filming him, (Steve Winters), as he is filming the cat?” “Steve has been around tigers, both wild and in captivity for years, he knew what he was asking, and to have a photo guy there, filming him, while he is filming the cat, this looks like a perfect set up”.
"Guynup’s" information sources and references
are questionable and extremely flawed.
During Ms. Guynup’s two year investigation period, she has elected to hold a claim that many of the “sanctuaries” that are mentioned in her article all accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, (GFAS). Research confirms that “GFAS” is just another spin off program of the United States Humane Society, (HSUS) which has an extremely large and anti-animal owner and commercial use agenda with many well documented agenda findings published against them at www.humanewatch.org.
In addition, HSUS has been the subject of many Congressional investigations, State Attorney investigations for fraud, federal racketeering, and has even been the topic of Congressional State Representative being forced to leave office due to illegal actions and engagements with HSUS, (See congress report)
HSUS is the owner of the alter-ego accreditation
organization sanctuaryfederation.org (a/k/a GFAS)
Questionable practices seem to be the norm
for those that associate with HSUS and GFAS Sanctuaries.
Recently, Kellie Heckman, GFAS Executive Director, was caught on tape saying the “reason most of us get into the sanctuary business is because of the money”.
A board member with the GFAS accredited facility, WildCat Sanctuary in Minnesota was found guilty of embezzlement.
Records show that over 20% of such exotic animal related human deaths happen at sanctuaries, and about 40% have occurred at AZA facilities, (American Zoological Association) Source: rexano.org. One of the most recent was a keeper killed by a large cat at the GFAS accredited facility, “WildCat Haven” in Oregon. Interestingly enough Tim Harrison, (another of Ms. Guynup’s listed resources) was a Board member and also directly named in the finding by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Department case against WildCat Haven, (read report)
Tim Harrison - a/k/a, Outreach For Animals
It does not take long to do the research on Tim Harrison. The website timharrisonwatch.com seems to be tracking Mr. Harrison in great detail and describes “Tim Harrison - a self-proclaimed wildlife and exotic animal professional is an individual that the zoo and animal industry has known about for some time now. His rants, comments, actions and statements, many of them false (including the claim he is a Homeland Security Instructor) has identified him as a person with a questionable, and possibly a dangerous past.”
Tim Harrison claiming the "proper" way to handle a cougar.
Harrison at one time was an adjunct instructor, (contractor) with Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) which is a state extension agency that offers training programs and technical assistance to public safety workers. TEEX has a magnificent training facility in Texas, “Disaster City”. This mock community features full-scale, collapsible structures designed to simulate various levels of disaster and wreckage which can be customized for the specific training needs of any group.
While Guynup and Winters were in Texas, Harrison was able to gain them access to this training facility which enabled them to take photos as Harrison attempted to frame his false and negative agenda.
As TEEX learned what Guynup and Winters, (NatGeo) were up to, TEEX sent all parties written notice that they were now forbidden to use the grounds, or photos of the TEEX site in their story.
Additionally, it appears that Guynup and Winters became more aware of Harrison’s activities and background, and even with the amount of time Harrison spent with them, Guynup’s finished story briefly referenced Harrison only once. More can be found on Tim Harrison here.
From left: Nick Guynup, (son), Sharon Guynup, Tim Harrison, Steve Winters taken during their time in Texas.
Black Beauty Ranch - GFAS Accredited/Verified
The HSUS owned flagship sanctuary in Texas, “Black Beauty Ranch” has been plagued in the past with numerous USDA violations concerning it’s animal care, including, failing to provide proper veterinarian care and programs on four different inspections, inadequate ventilation for non-human primates, violations involving improper sanitation, housekeeping, and pest control, improper perimeter fence heights, and more. (See report)
Just recently, investigative reporter David Schechter from Dallas traveled to the HSUS Black Beauty Ranch and point-blank asked HSUS Texas State Director where and how HSUS came up with the captive tiger inventory?
“I'm not sure where we came up with that number. And I wouldn't say it's completely accurate, but there's no way we can confirm it. The reason being there is no database of tigers in the state of Texas,” Katie says.
That translates to,... they just made that number up.
HSUS Texas State Director intervied by investigative reporter.
Click to watch
Big Cat Rescue - GFAS Accredited/Verified
In addition to a very lengthy and dark past, (including murder investigations) the operators of the now called Big Cat Rescue have been caught in fraud investigations.
Recently the Florida Fish and Wildlife cited Big Cat Rescue with over 70 violations.
Big Cat Rescue is also a very active voice against what they call “exploitation of big cats”, which by their meaning is anything that allows public interaction with big cats no matter what the circumstances. It did not take long to discover that this is exactly what they do as well.
"Pay to Play" - Public feeding big cats at Big Cat Rescue, FL
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Big Cat Rescue stating that big cat crises has dropped.
Then of course the disappearance and alleged murder of millionaire Don Lewis, the husband of Carole Baskin, (and at that time Carole Lewis) was unfolding just before the internet capabilities back in 1997-1998. This report was printed in “People Weekly Magazine” – December 7, 1998.
Tiger Attack at Big Cat Rescue
On December 3, 2020, Big Cat Rescue staff member was seriously attacked by on of it’s tigers.“In a statement, Baskin explained that the tiger, "Kimba had been locked away from that section for several days as cameras were being installed there. She opened a guillotine tunnel door at one end of the tunnel, and when she went to raise the second door she saw it was clipped shut. This is our universal signal NOT to open a gate without the coordinator coming to assist, but Candy said she just wasn't thinking when she reached in to un clip it. It is against our protocols for anyone to stick any part of their body into a cage with a cat in it. Kimba grabbed her arm and nearly tore it off at the shoulder." Source: FOX13
Those that have been working with such animals for an extended time (such as Ms. Couser) for five years are usually considered a “seasoned keeper”. And looking at Ms. Couser’s past, she does not fit the profile of an idiot, but a rather highly educated person with team-leading experience.
The 69-year-old Couser, from Boston, obtained her MS in Computer Science from Hartford, and her BA in Biology from Wells College, and was a project manager for IBM.
Most credible zoo’s have a very detailed written procedure for briefing and communicating with staff members, especially when it concerns the movement of dangerous animals, their equipment, habitat modifications, temperament, health, upcoming procedures, diet, etc.
The idea that BCR is floating that a clipped door “is our universal signal NOT to open a gate without the coordinator coming to assist”, but Ms. Couser just was not thinking just does not stick. That’s like saying that an experienced driver forgets that a red light means stop, but I just forgot what the red light meant??
A “universal sign not to open a gate” just does not cut it, or satisfy current regulations.
One thing we bet that the OSHA investigators will be asking for is their documentation and equipment for “Lock-Out” systems and locks (also referred to as “tag-outs”) that are REQUIRED for all situations such as this. Just ask Wild Cat Haven, (OR) , yet another GFAS facility, that had a keeper killed by a big cat under similar situations and not providing such required safeguards.
In-Sync Exotics - GFAS Accredited/Verified
The “In-Sync” facility also seems to have a dearth background that past workers have exposed. So much that the list is so long that these whistle-blowers had started a website to list this history, and also citing the death of over 30 big cats at In-Sync, http://insyncexoticskillers.com
The operator (Vicky Keahey) was also recently convicted of possessing big cats without the proper state or county permit, which is also grounds for the USDA to revoke a license:
According to the regulations under the Animal Welfare Act, a license is to be terminated when the following act(s) are committed:
§ 2.12 - Termination of a license.A license may be terminated during the license renewal process or at any other time for any reason that an initial license application may be denied pursuant to § 2.11 after a hearing in accordance with the applicable rules of practice.(6) Has made any false or fraudulent statements or provided any false or fraudulent records to the Department or other government agencies, or has pled nolo contendere (no contest) or has been found to have violated any Federal, State, or local laws or regulations pertaining to the transportation, ownership, neglect, or welfare of animals, or is otherwise unfit to be licensed and the Administrator determines that the issuance of a license would be contrary to the purposes of the Act.
This is the same scenario that Amarillo Wildlife Refuge was placed in after a board member was found guilty on a related animal topic. The USDA promptly revoked their license.
Keahey’s history goes back even further.
In May 1998, a pet cougar named “Ranger” bit a 4-year old boy in Wylie, Texas (Collin County). Multiple newspapers reported that the owner of the pet cougar was Vicky Marshall (now Vicky Keahey). The boy was treated in the hospital for several puncture wounds. As required by law, cougar “Roger” was quarantined for 30 days 45-days at the local animal shelter as a precaution to ensure he didn't have rabies.
Animal control officers tried to impound Marshall’s second pet cougar, “Tahoe”, as a precaution, since “Tahoe” and “Ranger Roger” had nose-to-nose contact, and by law, should have been quarantined for rabies as well. To prevent “Tahoe” being quarantined, Marshall took her pet cougar to her friends’ USDA licensed exotic animal facility in Leona, TX.
At the time, Collin County authorities allowed residents to keep exotic pets only if they had a Federal USDA permit. Vicky Marshall supposedly didn’t have the required permit and was therefore in violation of County law. Marshall was given a misdemeanor citation for this violation and convicted.
When Marshall eventually secured her USDA exhibitor permit, so as to legally keep her pets, she was not only reunited with her pet cougars, but she also started buying pet tiger cubs as well. Marshall’s first white tiger was “Kiro”, bought in September 1999, from the same friend in Leona, TX, that cared for her cougar during Marshall’s time of need, as she sought the required USDA license. Back then, the going purchase rate for white tigers was around $10,000. So with just two pet cougars and at least one pet tiger cub, this is how Keahey's alter ego non-profit ‘In-Sync Exotic Wildlife Rescue and Education Center’ was born. It was around this time Vicky Marshall got married and became Vicky Keahey.
In-Sync caught transporting adult tiger on Texas back road to a veterinarian.
Apparently a website maintained by past staff members at In-Sync with a tremendous amount of disturbing information
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge - GFAS Accredited/Verified
This refuge claims on it’s website that “ A sanctuary is a “place of refuge or safety” that provides lifetime care for the animals it has rescued. It is crucial to only support sanctuaries that do what is best for the animals. Ethical tourism gives you the opportunity to change the lives of animals in need. We can make a difference through our choices. Make sure to ask the questions below before planning your visit to a sanctuary or an exotic animal rescue.”
Some of the photos we researched showed a different story, and prison atmosphere as Ms. Guynup fails to depicts in her NatGeo story:
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge self proclaimed “rescue”.
This is the so-called “GFAS Accreditation” for a big cat ?
July 2022 : Tiger escapes during open hours at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
Inspection report after a tiger escape at Turpentine Creek in 2022
Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary - GFAS Accredited/Verified.
This facility states on their website, “Take a stand by advocating for legislation that protects captive wildlife, and help to end the cruelty that has been going on for far too long. You have the power to save the lives of animals who have been abused and neglected and ensure public safety.”
However, with just a few short clicks we found that this was the opposite that they practice. We located several photos where this facility allows the general public to feed the big cats up close and in violation of the federal regulations by not providing a public barrier, :
"Pay to Play" at Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary.
Recent story of April 3, 2022 showing the GFAS accredited “sanctuary” promoting public feedings with big cats.
American Zoo and Aquarium Association, AZA
American Zoo and Aquarium Association, (AZA). It is no secret that the AZA is a large “union-type” operation. Under the quasi of “conservation”, a zoo facility must abide by their rules and directives, or be kicked out and black-labeled. The Executive Director (Dan Ashe) with the AZA recently touted in a public hearing that:
“AZA's 233 accredited aquariums, nature centers, science centers and zoos annually see more than 195 million visitors, collectively generate more than $22 billion in annual economic activity” (see transcript)
With this handful of zoo’s producing an average of no less than $10 million dollars a year each, one can pounder the questions, with this type of financial activity why do we still have endangered species? With all that money you would think that zoo’s could do a little more than a few signs with less than 100 words on them to bring awareness to it’s visitors.
We looked at the tiger conservation efforts and found a very different framework for the AZA’s plan, and idea of tiger conservation. Currently the AZA, Species Survival Plan, (SSP) for tigers include three sub-species, the Amur, Sumatran and Malayan tigers. They also have one other class for SSP tigers, the “generic tiger”. The AZA states that this is a Yellow SSP Plan, and “its goal is to reduce the population of generic tigers in AZA-accredited zoos.”
- Interestingly enough several others in the scientific conservation community disagree and report that the generic sub-species tigers have a very strong role in current conservation and gene pool diversity, further claiming “...researchers discovered that many apparently "generic" tigers actually represent purebred subspecies and harbor gnomic diversity no longer found in nature." ["Many Captive Tigers Are of Purebred Ancestry; Finding Raises Their Conservation Value." Science Daily - April 2008]
- Another claimed, "Conclusions: Well-managed captive populations of wild animals can assist in public education, research, and fundraising (S.Christie, personal communication)and have been justified as a ‘‘genetic reservoir'' of their natural counter parts and, thus, insurance against extinction in the wild." ["Subspecies Genetic Assignments of Worldwide Captive Tigers Increase Conservation Value of Captive Populations" Current Biology April 2008]
When the AZA brings an animal into the SSP program, the AZA garnishing a tremendous amount of controlling “say so” within that animals home territory. However, India, the home of the Bengal tiger species has not participated, (given in) in the AZA’s SSP, and thus has maintained the control of the conservation activities with this species.
India’s wild Bengal tiger population has soared over 33% in the last 5 years, and now India has about 71% of the worlds wild tiger population. None of the tiger species that the SSP are currently managing have seen any significant increase over the decades. In fact, the AZA Tiger SSP is now making their number one task to “maintain sustainable, genetically diverse tiger populations as a “genetic insurance policy” for their wild counterparts”.
So while India is showing the rest of the world that true and realistic wild tiger conservation works, the AZA and it’s SSP program along with it’s $22 billion dollars a year in revenue seem to be telling us that the end is near for the tiger species in it’s control. But don’t worry, they will have captive breeding stock ?
"The Actual Numbers and Facts:"
- No uninvolved member of the public has been seriously injured by an escaped exotic cat in the last decade.
- No uninvolved person has been killed by an escaped exotic cat in the last 25 years, and this time span probably extends much further.
- Today, all but three states have regulations that have contributed to the decline of such incidents.
We also found the following links useful:
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The bottom line from NAWA’s stand point:
Good research entails grappling with dissonances and discrepancies arising from inconsistent views. While good research certainly defies simple conceptualization, it is this process of constant reflection, negotiation, and interpretation of solid facts that renders the research process fluid , dynamic, and accurate in order to make sound decisions.
The NatGeo article in question has demonstrated through it’s bias writer and photographer, (Sharon Lee Guynup, and Steven Winters) that the thoroughness and accuracy of their report was not sought.
The extreme animal activist have had their research and reports debunked over the decades by the simple true facts that refute their claims itself. As we have witnessed their propaganda come full circle we now find that they are attempting to tie zoo’s and their tiger inventory into the illegal black market trade of endangered species parts. This tactic will fail as well, as the true facts and supported documentation confirms this is not the case.
