In response to the introduction of the Big Cat Public Safety Act in the U.S. Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Tom Carper, D-Del., and Richard Burr, U.S. diplomatic representative in law, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Leigh Henry, Director of Wildlife Policy:
“This legislation brings us one step closer to a safer future for wild tigers. While the United States has long been a leader in global wildlife conservation, it has not done enough to ensure that its captive tiger population does not contribute to the illegal trade and fuel demand for tiger parts. America's leadership on this issue would set a solid standard in efforts to end the tiger farm explosion, particularly in Southeast Asia, where wild tiger populations face some of the greatest threats to survival.
“The United States started a global wave when it tightened regulations on the domestic ivory trade, and many countries, including China, followed suit. By passing this legislation to more strictly regulate big cats in the US, we can increase the chances of convincing other countries to do the same. "