Leonardo DiCaprio Seeks Legislation to Protect Big Cats

In the wake of the Zanesville, Ohio tragedy in which 49 exotic animals killed after they were let free by wild life preserve owner Terry Thompson who subsequently committed suicide, actor, environmentalist and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio is urging his fans to take action to protect big cats.

DiCaprio is a longtime advocate for the protection and preservation of the world’s endangered species, teaming up with the World Wildlife Foundation as a co-sponsor of the Save Tigers Now global campaign to save the tigers from extinction.

Since the Zanesville tragedy, DiCaprio has taken to Facebook and Twitter to remind his followers that although they are majestic creatures, exotic animals are not meant as pets.

Read: Exotic Big Cats Are Not Pets

“Tigers, lions and cougars are kept as pets in the U.S. in alarming numbers...often leading to mistreatment and cruelty towards the animals themselves, but also diminishing big cat conservation around the world,” DiCaprio posted on his Facebook page last week.

“Let's prevent another Zanesville, Ohio tragic incident from happening again and take action to ban private ownership of big cats in the US,” he added posting a link for fans to contact their local members of Congress urging legislation to protect big cats from cruelty.

In the same vein, an Ohio lawmaker has proposed a bill that would ban private ownership of exotic animals and allow current owners to keep their animals granted they pass a background check and obtain a state issued license by 2014. After passing the in the Ohio state Senate’s agriculture panel today, the bill is headed to a full Senate vote.

Read: Exotic Animals Massacred in Ohio

Measures are also being taken on a federal level as legislation banning the private ownership and breeding of big cats has been introduced in the House of Representatives and will soon be introduced in the Senate.

Such legislation is exactly the action activists like DiCaprio are seeking to come to fruition in order to protect not only human beings, but also the marvelous big cats from animal cruelty.

As DiCaprio said on Twitter, “Big cats like tigers & lions belong in the wild, not in people's backyards & basements.” Do your part and take action, here!

What do you think of DiCaprio's efforts to save endangered animals, like tigers? Share you thoughts in a comment below.