Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation

The Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation (or BJWT) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) animal rescue center located in Mexico. BJWT hosts big cats as well as dogs and other animals.[1][2]

Lions feeding at the sanctuary

History

According to businessman Eduardo Serio, BJWT was founded in 2013 when he rescued a jaguar cub named Cielo from a pet store in Monterrey, Mexico.[2][1] Other reports claim that Cielo was Eduardo Serio's cousin's pet cub, that was to be sold to a petting zoo, that Serio took care of.[3] The organization's big cats come from circuses, breeders and zoos.[1][4]

Numerous celebrities have visited the sanctuary, including Lewis Hamilton,[5][6] Khloe Kardashian,[7] Paris Hilton and The Backstreet Boys.[2] Concerns over unsafe contact between humans and big cats have garnered criticism from animal rights advocates.[7][8] Both PETA and Wild Welfare have criticized BJWT for exploiting and mistreating the wild cats, keeping them in small enclosures and promoting wild cats as pets.[9][10] PETA have also raised concerns about the large amount of cubs, who are likely torn away from their mothers and don't have their basic needs met. They also claim that when the animals get older, they are typically cast aside.[10]

The foundation is not accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.[7][11]

References
  1. "ABOUT". blackjaguarwhitetiger.org. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  2. Harris, Sarah (3 November 2015). "Heavy Petting - Miss Vogue visits Mexico's Black Jaguar White Tiger Sanctuary". Vogue (British magazine). Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  3. Beales, Jacalyn (2 January 2016). "Fooling Millions with False Conservation: The Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation". Jacalyn Beales. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  4. Golgowski, Nina (16 August 2016). "Watch A Tiger Save His Handler From A Charging Leopard's Sneak Attack". Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  5. Horton, Helena (11 August 2016). "Lewis Hamilton criticised by Peta for 'foolish' Snapchat tiger selfies". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  6. Orde, Elena (12 August 2016). "The horrible truth behind Lewis Hamilton's seemingly cute Snapchat of tigers can't be ignored". The Independent. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. Knibbs, Kate (15 January 2016). "This Celebrity-Studded Instagram Petting Zoo Is A Disaster Waiting To Happen". Gizmodo. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. Haglage, Abby (7 January 2016). "Hollywood's Favorite Sham Petting Zoo". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  9. "Wild Welfare responds to animal welfare concerns at Black Jaguar White Tiger facility". Wild Welfare. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  10. "Black Jaguar–White Tiger: Sham Sanctuary". PETA. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  11. Weisberger, Mindy (29 January 2018). "Lion and Dog 'Shake Hands': What's Really Happening?". Live Science. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
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