help for big cats

Thousands of big cats live in very poor conditions in circuses, zoos, and private ownership all across the world today. Uncontrolled breeding causes "surplus" animals that either end up dead or traded to unsuitable places.

FOUR PAWS believes that big cats should not be kept as pets or for entertainment. These wild animals suffer in captivity under inadequate keeping conditions including lack of expert care, frequent traveling, harsh training and intensive interaction with humans. 

FOUR PAWS calls for the improvement of legal standards regarding keeping conditions in certified zoological facilities and sanctuaries and demands a ban on other forms of captivity. Devising solutions for unwanted and illegally kept big cats plays a crucial role in our work. Our big cat sanctuaries and centers offer rescued big cats a species-appropriate home.

close up image of tiger

Take Action for Big Cats

Time to end the exploitation of big cats in the U.S.

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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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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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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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Tiger Shevar at LIONSROCK

South Africa wants better protection for big cats

94% of South Africans say big cats should be better protected by the country’s laws and regulations

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Tiger behind a fence

FOUR PAWS at CITES CoP19

What is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and why is FOUR PAWS participating 

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Tiger

Year of the Tiger?

An investigative report into the big cat farming in South Africa and the need for international action

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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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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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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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Image of a African lion

Big Cats in South Africa

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

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Two white lions

Captive Breeding For Exterior Traits

Commercial interests disguised as species protection

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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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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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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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Lion at LIONSROCK

10 Facts About Big Cats

How much do you know about these powerful feline predators? 

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our big Cat sanctuaries & Rescue Centers

We provide species-appropriate homes for rescued big cats all over the world.

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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rescues

Stories about our rescued big cats.

Lion Ivan-Asen in FELDIA 2018

Rescue Lion Ivan-Asen

Rescued from a zoo in Bulgaria and brought to our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

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Lions Masoud and Terez

Rescue Lions Masoud & Terez

Two Bulgarian lion cubs find a new home in our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary 

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