How Not to Be a ‘Tiger King’
What Netflix didn’t tell you about this binge-worthy series
By Moina Rohira
This article isn’t about dissuading you from hiring a hitman and getting involved with murder, (things I hope you already know not to do) or to steer away from a life like the protagonist of the docu-series ‘Tiger King’, which most of us probably binged on Netflix during quarantine (guilty), but rather about the breeding of animals seen in the series deemed as ‘conservation’ by society. For those who don’t know, Tiger King is a true-crime miniseries that focuses on the lives of big cat conservationists, especially that of Joe Exotic’s. Yes, watching Joe Exotic’s life unravel was popcorn-munching-interesting no doubt, but serious issues regarding animal welfare were majorly downplayed as something we were not willing to drop the popcorn for.
The impulse to play with an adorable, baby tiger is understandable. But what happens when they’re not cute anymore?
Petting zoos speed-breed their tigers so that visitors are constantly occupied with cubs to play with. In the wild, tiger cubs would stay with their mothers for up to two years; in cub petting attractions, they’re torn away a few hours after being born. The cubs undergo immense amounts of stress after being separated from the warmth of their mothers and become scared of the world around them; their lives beginning in the cold hands of strangers. Like any infant, tigers cubs also need adequate sleep and rest so they can develop properly. This is not given to the cubs which makes them susceptible to dangers worse than the physical abuse inflicted on them during public encounters. Vulnerable and defenceless, these cubs are constantly being carted around in cramped cages, and many die due to the stressful nature of their transportation. After 12 weeks, they’re deemed ‘too big’ to interact with people and either become breeders themselves, go on exhibit, or are killed. This cycle of breeding just for profit leads to a surplus of unwanted animals who suffer in horrible conditions; this isn’t conservation. The next time you see a photo of someone holding a tiger cub on Instagram, just remember that when people pay to play with these cubs, they’re also paying for a lifetime of exploitation. Sure, Joe Exotic’s murder-for-hire plot makes for good television, but Tiger King didn’t delve nearly deep enough into the abuse of the cub-petting industry.
Private breeding is often done so in the name of ‘conservation’, and breeders argue that they are helping endangered species so they can return to the wild. What most people don’t know is that no tigers have ever been released back into the wild. Why? They simply wouldn’t survive; they never learned how to hunt, get their own food or fend for themselves, having been separated from their mothers as infants. Many tigers are inbred in order to get skin patterns that are ‘aesthetically pleasing’ or to plainly put it — more profitable. Inbreeding can lead to genetic deformities and would most likely result in genetic pollution if these tigers were to go back to their natural habitats.
What Netflix didn’t tell you was that in addition to Exotic’s murder-for-hire conviction, he was also found guilty of 17 wildlife-related crimes (Not your average Joe huh), and we’re talking about a man who claimed he devoted his life to protect these animals. Even though Joe Exotic’s 5 hours of fame have expired, social media is still filled with videos of people playing with wild animals. The desire to bond with animals is embedded in human nature, but the internet and entertainment industry has transformed this desire into a performing art. A more centralised oversight is needed to ensure the welfare of animals in order to stop feeding this illegal trade. Once you’ve finished watching (or rewatching) Tiger King, do these animals a favour and resolve to never participate in photo ops with them. If you’re thinking about visiting a sanctuary, look out for ones that never breed, sell or allow any public interactions with their animals.
The harsh truth is, every living thing is either predator or prey. If we truly care about animals, we must learn to not intervene, and let the wild things be wild.
Works Cited
“PETA Responds to ‘Tiger King’ Netflix Series, Joe Exotic.” PETA, 3 Sept. 2020, www.peta.org/blog/netflix-tiger-king-peta/.
“Tiger King.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_King.
“Why Breeding Tigers for Entertainment Is Not Conservation.” WWF, tigers.panda.org/news_and_stories/stories/why_breeding_tigers_for_entertainment_is_not_conservation/.
Winter, Photograph by Steve, and Photograph by Joel Sartore. “Key Facts That ‘Tiger King’ Missed about Captive Tigers.” Animals, 1 Apr. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/captive-tigers-joe-exotic-tiger-king/.
