PETA Demands Action Against Kirshner Wildlife Foundation After Malnourished Tiger Cub Case

PETA officially confirmed that the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation was responsible for Shyra, the malnourished tiger cub who recently made headlines. The cub was transferred to the Oakland Zoo for treatment and then to the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in San Andreas. Shyra was confiscated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in February, suffering from broken bones and muscle loss. On July 1st, PETA called on the state agency to revoke Kirshner’s permit for animal keeping and exhibiting and to pursue criminal charges under state cruelty-to-animals laws. PETA highlighted that Kirshner had already received 13 citations this year for federal Animal Welfare Act violations.

PETA alerted the CDFW in July 2023 about Kirshner’s alleged permit violations, including tiger breeding. Despite this, state authorities did not investigate and renewed the permit in November. Public records indicate that Shyra’s littermate died two days after birth. In February, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors found Shyra with several bone fractures and metabolic bone disease, often due to poor nutrition.

Shyra is not the first animal at Kirshner to suffer from metabolic bone disease. In 2017, a lion cub named Lucie was cited for inadequate nutrition, with inspection reports noting her inability to stand or walk properly.

USDA records also revealed that other animals at Kirshner were suffering from inadequate care. A mule deer had severely overgrown hooves, and two big cats had untreated open wounds. Brittany Peet, PETA Foundation’s General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement, criticized the foundation, stating that Kirshner has proven it cannot be trusted with animal care. PETA urges the CDFW to revoke Kirshner’s permit and transfer the animals to reputable facilities for proper care.

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