Genuine big cat sanctuaries provide lifetime care for animals that cannot be released, but distinguishing legitimate sanctuaries from exploitative facilities requires careful evaluation.
The distinction between a genuine sanctuary and an exploitative facility matters enormously for animal welfare. Genuine sanctuaries provide lifelong care for individual animals that cannot survive in the wild, with no breeding, no commercial exploitation of the animals and rigorous welfare standards. Pseudo-sanctuaries breed big cats, run cub petting operations where cubs are removed from mothers within days of birth and sell surplus animals to canned hunting or exotic pet markets. The welfare costs of this system are severe for every animal involved. The Big Cat Public Safety Act in the USA provides some protections, but international standards remain inconsistent and public education is essential.