On Wednesday, President Joe Biden officially signed the Tiger King Bill into law. This bipartisan bill, which is intended to regulate the way roadside zoos in the United States are operated, is one of his first official actions as president.
The Tiger King Bill was crafted to prevent animal abuse and mistreatment occurring in unregulated roadside zoos. It was inspired by the Netflix series Tiger King, which exposed viewers to the exploitative and neglectful practices of large-scale roadside zoos, such as those operated by Joe Maldonado-Passage (fondly known as “Joe Exotic”).
Since the show’s release, several organizations have advocated for stricter regulation of roadside zoos across the United States. The bill, as signed by President Biden, expands the powers of the United States Department of Agriculture in terms of regulating animal welfare, and also increases punitive measures for those convicted of animal cruelty or neglect.
The law is notable in the way it takes a proactive approach to animal welfare, rather than the reactive stance that is typically taken by U.S. laws. It will allow the USDA to update regulations more quickly in response to changing trends in animal husbandry; this is to ensure that roadside zoos are regularly held to higher standards as the industry evolves.
Now that the Tiger King Bill has been signed into law, animal activists and organizations can rest easier knowing that more regulations are in place to ensure the safety and security of animals at roadside zoos. President Biden has proven that he is committed to animal welfare, and this new law is a testament to that.
