big cats

Did you know the tiger is the largest big cat? Then comes the lion? Did you know that lions are the only representatives of the cat family to live and hunt in a pack. Tigers, on the other hand, are usually solitary. Their strikingly striped markings make them unique – and provide the perfect camouflage for the undergrowth.     

Learn about the animal welfare issues these cats face and how FOUR PAWS is committed to helping lions and tigers, and other types of big cats, worldwide. 

Learn More About Big Cats

Lion at LIONSROCK

10 Facts About Big Cats

How much do you know about these powerful feline predators? 

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Lioness

Big Cats in the Wild

Big cats are wild animals that are all threatened to some extent in the wild

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Worldwide Circus Bans

Countries, states, cities and towns have started restricting the use of wild animals in circuses 

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young lion cub looking at camera

Big Cat Rescue

How FOUR PAWS undertakes big cat rescues and provides lifelong care at our big cat sanctuaries 

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Rafah Zoo in Gaza

FAQs on Big Cat Rescue Missions

Learn more about how we stop the suffering of big cats across the world 

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how they're suffering and what we're doing to end it

FOUR PAWS is lobbying to alter legislation and achieve lasting change for the better. We also rescue lions and tigers kept in bad conditions in captivity.  

the tiger trade


Trade with living tigers and with tiger products must be stopped!
 

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Transfer tiger Caruso

Tiger King – everyone is watching, no one is acting

The truth behind Joe Exotic and Tiger King season 2 on Netflix! 

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two lions - canned hunting

Canned Lion Hunting

Born to be killed: lion hunting in South Africa

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two lions - canned hunting

Trophy Hunting

Killing and displaying wild animals as trophies

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tamer and tiger

Wild Animals in Entertainment

Animal abuse for entertainment is still happening throughout the world

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person petting a lion cub

Big Cats on Breeding Farms

The truth behind the tourist attraction of cuddling and walking with a lion cub

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Break The Vicious Cycle

Our campaign to ban the commercial trade of big cats in South Africa

Tigers at LIONSROCK

Protecting Tigers Across the Globe

FOUR PAWS works to protect big cats in the US, Europe, and South Africa


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Lion in a cage

Break The Vicious Cycle

End the commercial trade of all big cats in South Africa


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Lion at LIONSROCK

#BreakTheViciousCycle Milestones

Celebrating achievements and accomplishments in the fight against the big cat trade in South Africa


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#RuthlessTrade

Our campaign to end the commercial trade with captive tigers throughout the EU

black and white photo of a tiger laying

Tiger Trade

More tigers live in captivity than are left in the wild


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Tiger behind bars

Milestones in the fight to ban the #RuthlessTrade in Europe

Mission to expose the horrific realities of the tiger business 


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highlighted big cat rescue missions

Tiger in cage in Gaza

Mission to Gaza

Zoo animals brought safely out of Gaza, 2016


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Two lionesses at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa

FOUR PAWS Provides New Home for Two Circus Lionesses

After being forced to perform in a French circus for years, Tomoyo and Illiana are now home


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#TrainTigers

#TrainTigers

Stuck in a train carriage for 15 years


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Suffering lion

Shutting down Safari Park Zoo in Fier, Albania

#NoMoreFierZoo – FOUR PAWS evacuates wild animals from 'Europe's worst zoo'


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four paws big cat sanctuaries

Lioness Neida at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary

LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary

A FOUR PAWS project in South Africa since 2006

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Tigress Dehli at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

Our FOUR PAWS wild animal project in the Netherlands since 2014

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Tigress Varvara at TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary

TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary

A cooperation between FOUR PAWS and TIERART e.V. in Germany since 2013

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Tiger resting on a rock at LIONSROCK

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