America’s bizarre obsession with owning exotic animals | 60 Minutes Australia

Rewind back to 2010: If you think India or Indonesia has the most tigers, think again. Try America. These tigers aren't roaming the wilds of the Mid West, they're not even in zoos. No, these are household pets. In all, there are some 7,000 tigers kept in the backyards and even lounge rooms of everyday Americans. And it doesn't stop with tigers. Animals lovers with a taste for the exotic are also sharing their homes with leopards, lions, wolves and bears. And it's all legal, but not surprisingly, things don't always end well for the owners, nor for these magnificent creatures.

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[trapped]

Thank God for the people who dedicated their lives to helping these animals ❣️

[thgentexan]

Adopt a pet house cat!! Mine is gorgeous and majestic, at 12 lbs. She is sleeping on the foot of my bed right now. On very rare occasions she scratches me while playing and I don't even need a band aid. No cages, no cruelty, no suffering.

[joannbanis]

These animals deserve so much better than they are getting..THEY ARE NOT PETS

[sherrytaha]

Insanity. This is animal abuse and it is difficult to believe that it is legal. Thanks for this piece.

[juanitagonzalez]

It should be illegal to have them as pets .they belong in the wild

[greenfairy]

I live in the US and I think it's totally wrong. Those animals are suffering..

[aprilcrook]

I love the Wild Animal Sanctuary! That place is amazing

[naterciamartins]

We need more people like this man ❤ thank you! Too many horrible people in this world!

[g.d.tharanga]

The commitment of this gentleman must be applauded.

[CP-mbjk]

We people are so disconnected with animals, nature and Mother Earth, we have lost our humanity 😢💔 but also humans like these who rescue are no less than Angels for me ❤️🙏

[ijusthis-hryg]

I’m American and I’m so glad that 60Minutes Australia exposes Americas wrongdoings to animals and the environment.

[kathyotoole]

Being from the US, I think it’s disgusting!! In NJ, we can’t even keep an injured squirrel. We have very strict rules. However, in Florida, you can buy almost anything.

[janetharned]

Disgraceful and so horrible to keep these animals in homes, etc. They belong in sanctuaries where they are cared for properly, if unable to be in their own natural habitat. Humans can be so cruel, so stop this cruelty, and remove these beautiful animals and give them a proper place to safely live!!

[Aterhallsam]

This is like if Harry Potter never got to leave from under the stairs

[kananaskiscountry]

thank u, for helping them to adjust to a simpler life and a better life!!
being wild with wild life

[angelakimbrell]

I don’t know when you filmed this but Ohio has laws against owning exotic animals ever since that idiot that had so many let them out and killed himself. It traumatized everyone here in Ohio because there was no instant solution to recapturing all of them. There were less than 5 of the animals that survived the event. And if you have found someone that owns a large cat or any other exotic animal then they are breaking the law.

[Tracydot]

Wild animals shouldn't be in zoos let alone in people's homes. Wild animals belong in the wild. They do not exist for your entertainment!

[sarisimons]

I can't watch these videos. It hurts my soul.

[trapped]

I am an American animal lover. I also have brains and common sense. So sad for these animals.

[june]

So they're going from being in jail in one place to a slightly better jail? Poor animals. We should be addressing the root of the problem and preventing people from getting wild cubs in the first place