When the legendary Tiger Truck Stop moved from Texas to Louisiana a couple of years ago, and reduced its stock of live, caged tigers from three to one, its owners probably hoped that they would get some peace.
Not so. According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Louisiana state wildlife officials have found an old law that forbids private ownership of “wild, exotic, vicious” animals for exhibition. They’ve told the owners that the truck stop’s one remaining big cat, Tony the Tiger (no, not that Tony the Tiger), will have to go.
Tony isn’t wild, and he certainly isn’t vicious, although he could get cranky if an interstate bus stops for gas and a lot of tourists pop camera flashes in his face. He definitely is exotic, however, and his owners reportedly are threatening to file suit to keep him.
It’s a shame that Wilbert Behn has retired. He’d not only take Tony, he’d have him jumping through hoops of fire!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:02 am
“jumping through hoops of fire” Yeah, I’m sure the poor animal would love that. Beautiful animals caged and exploited for people’s amusement. Sad.