The Protecting Local Zoos Act is Not What it Seems: A New Threat for Big Cats
Author: Callie Friedman
Originally Published: July 13, 2026
ESTIMATED READING TIME: 4 MINUTES
The Big Cat Public Safety Act was established to protect big cats, but their safety faces a new threat from the Protecting Local Zoos Act. This blog post discusses both acts and how they influence the protection of the animals and the public.
You might think that running into a big cat in the wild would be much more dangerous than seeing a big cat in captivity, but the reality is much different. Keeping big cats in captivity creates serious risks for both people and the animals themselves. News headlines have documented at least 26 deaths and 275 injuries to people, 300 escapes and 160 killings of big cats since 1990 within the U.S. alone.
From inadequate care to unqualified owners, big cats have faced poor treatment for decades until December 2022 when the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) was enacted. The BCPSA aimed to eliminate private ownership of and public contact with big cats including lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, and any hybrids of these species. Within the BCPSA, activities such as importing, exporting, selling, purchasing, breeding, transporting, and possession were made unlawful for these prohibited species. Individuals that owned a big cat were given 180 days after enactment to properly register their big cat through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The BCPSA works to reduce private ownership while still allowing many organizations to exhibit animals as long as they have a proper license. Additionally, it prohibits close contact with the animals, eliminating unnecessary risk that has historically occurred because of careless and unqualified owners. The BCPSA also prohibits breeding, which is often done so that cubs are available for entertainment and petting. Cub “petting” causes psychological damage that cubs experience from repetitive human handling. Without the BCPSA in place, these cubs are eventually sold into the pet trade, sold to roadside zoos, or killed for their parts.
Despite these improvements enacted in 2022, it is already under threat. The proposed bill “Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026” will weaken and contradict the BCPSA creating loopholes for roadside zoos and other exhibitors. Current restrictions in place would be loosened, allowing breeding and sales, imports and exports, and cub petting interactions to resume. Furthermore, the prohibited wildlife species definition would be altered to remove snow and clouded leopards and their hybrids, no longer guaranteeing their protection. Allowing the public to believe this bill supports local zoos is deceiving because it hides the fact that it opens up the opportunity for even more big cat exploitation.
Loopholes that will be created by the Local Zoos Act will not benefit animals or qualified zoos. Instead, this new bill will work to undo the progress made toward protecting big cats and the visiting public. Potentially unqualified individuals will regain the ability to own big cats through a Class B dealer's license instead of the Class C exhibitor's license that zoos are required to have, and public contact with the cats will no longer be regulated. Furthermore, it will fuel the pet trade and private breeding which will result in increased animal abuse and suffering.
The Protecting Local Zoos Act is not what the name implies, rather it is an attempt to financially benefit the many groups like roadside zoos, private collectors, and transporters that operate for their own gain while disregarding the health and well-being of these animals.
Remember that both your voice and your wallet make a difference. Use your voice to reach out to your local representatives to share your opinion on the Protecting Local Zoos Act and avoid supporting activities and attractions that put animals and others at risk.
References:
Amundson, S., & Block, K. (2026, April 1). This US law did wonders to protect big cats and cubs. Now it’s in danger. Humane World Action Fund. https://humaneaction.org/blog/2026/04/us-law-did-wonders-protect-big-cats-and-cubs-now-its-danger
Animal Legal Defense Fund. (n.d.). Defend the Big Cat Public Safety Act. https://aldf.org/article/defend-the-big-cat-public-safety-act/
Big Cat Rescue. (n.d.). Big Cat Attacks. https://bigcatrescue.org/conservation-news/big-cat-attacks
the Brooks Institute. (2026, January 20). Federal Bill Would Loosen Big Cat Public Safety Act Protections. https://thebrooksinstitute.org/animal-law-digest/us/issue-331/federal-bill-would-loosen-big-cat-public-safety-act-protections
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). What You Need to Know About the Big Cat Public Safety Act. https://www.fws.gov/what-you-need-know-about-big-cat-public-safety-act
Wisch, R. F. (2003). Overview of the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. SS 3371-3378). Animal Legal & Historical Center; Michigan State University College of Law. https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-lacey-act-16-usc-ss-3371-3378
