help for big cats

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 travelling, harsh training and intensive interaction with humans. 

Unfortunately, thousands of big cats live in very poor conditions in circuses, zoos and in private ownership. Uncontrolled breeding causes ‘surplus’ animals who either end up dead or (illegally) traded to unsuitable places.

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.

Tamer and tiger

Suffering on Tour: Wild Animals in Circuses

Animal abuse for entertainment is still happening throughout the world


More
Two lion cubs in Bulgaria

Wild Animals in Zoos

Accommodating animals according to their needs


More
Lion in South Africa

Trophy and Canned Hunting

Killing and displaying wild animals as trophies


More
tiger cub abused in tourism

#RuthlessTourism

Animal abuse for tourism is real, so think before you book your next trip happening now, right on our doorstep


More
Transfer tiger Caruso

Tiger King – everyone is watching, no one is acting

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


More
Tiger

Year of the Tiger?

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


More

The Tiger Trade

More tigers live in captivity than are left in the wild


More
young lion

Wild Animals are Not Pets

Private ownership is detrimental to wild animals


More

support our campaigns!

Help us to end the keeping of big cats in conditions unsuited to the species

tiger in wildlife trade

#LiveKinder to End the Wildlife Trade

Stop the exploitation of wild animals

More
Lion in a cage

Break The Vicious Cycle

End the commercial trade of all big cats in South Africa

More
lion in need

FAQ's on Big Cat Rescue Missions

Learn more about how we help suffering big cats across the world

More

our Big cat sanctuaries

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

More
Tigress Varvara at TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary

TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary

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

More
Tigress Dehli at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

Our FOUR PAWS wild animal project in the Netherlands since 2014

More
Lioness at Al Ma'Wa for Nature & Wildlife

Al Ma'wa for Nature & Wildlife

A cooperation project between the Princess Alia Foundation and FOUR PAWS in Jordan since 2011

More

Meet our rescued big cats

Lion Bobby in FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary

Rescue Lion Bobby

Lion Bobby is settled and relaxed at his home in our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary 


More
Bengal tiger rescue from the Bloemfontein Zoo

Rescue of Two Tigers and Three Jackals

Home at LIONSROCK after an emergency rescue


More
Tiger Caruso

Rescue Tiger Caruso

As you know, this beautiful tiger moved from our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary to LIONSROCK in March 2019


More
Motan and Pisa

Rescue Lions Motan and Pisa

Motan and Pisa have settled in incredibly well at our project LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary! 


More
More
rescued lion

Support our work for big cats


Donate now

Search