Zoo’s interests in profits, not animals

Re: “Cat Tales mourns loss of Kimber” (Sept. 18 Voices)

I too, feel sad about the death of Kimber, a lion-tiger crossbreed that would never have existed in nature. I feel equally sad for the other big cats and bears still living (and breeding) in servitude to the owners and keepers at Cat Tales, a zoo which knows well that there are literally thousands of big cats supplying the legal black market in exotic wildlife for the pet trade, hunting ranches and abusive trainers in the Hollywood film industry, and yet they insist on contributing further to the problems of these animals by breeding more of them. And while owner Mike Wyche was quoted as saying about Kimber, “You don’t own a cat, you serve them,” I think it is clear that the zoo’s interests in profits and publicity are being served, not the animals.

But don’t just take my word for it. Please visit www.bornfree usa.org to learn about this harmful trade and www.paws web.org to learn about a sanctuary that is doing it’s best to protect captives like poor Kimber.

Kelly Tansy

Spokane