Tony, a Siberian-Bengal tiger, has lived his eleven years as a roadside attraction at the Tiger Truck Stop in Louisiana. In two different court hearings in 2011, a judge ordered that the state of Louisiana stop issuing permits for the truck stop to keep a tiger, but Tony is still there. Learn more about Tony at: http://freetonythetiger.wordpress.com/
Tony represents one of the estimated 5,000-10,000 of privately owned tigers in the United States, whose numbers are greater than tigers in the wild. Captive U.S. tigers are used in roadside zoos and attractions, photo-ops and exhibitiosn, entertainment shows, bred for profit or are owned as “pets.” Others end up in canned hunts or on the black market.
Even kids can help make a difference for wild animals in captivity. Letter-writing campaigns and petitions can both be effective ways of creating change, especially when a lot of people participate. Sign your name to the petition to Free Tony the Tiger at: http://www.change.org/petitions/ldwf-ensure-tony-the-tiger-is-released-to-a-reputable-sanctuary
You can also make a difference for a wild animal in captivity by letting other people know about the issue. Create your own Youtube video about an animal that needs help. Check out this video, created by a 10-year old animal advocate named Breawna who is trying to help Tony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCDeL_ujeZU
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