Three Tigers in America (TIA) board members—Bill Nimmo, Alan Biegelman, and Claire Sterling, all based in the New York City area—attended a World Animal Day luncheon at United Nations Headquarters organized by FOUR PAWS in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of France to the UN and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event brought together international representatives, scientists, and animal welfare advocates to explore how recognizing animals as sentient beings can translate into stronger protections and meaningful policy change. A photographic exhibition by Jo-Anne McArthur, award-winning photojournalist and founder of We Animals (and speaker at the Animal Grantmakers 2024 Toronto conference), underscored the importance of seeing animals as individuals whose lives and welfare matter.
In recent years, TIA has partnered with FOUR PAWS on international big-cat rescue efforts. Most recently, the organizations worked to relocate 30 lions and tigers from deplorable conditions at the former Zoo Luján in Argentina to specialized sanctuaries in South Africa and the United States. There, the animals were provided with medical treatment and will continue to receive lifelong care in safe, species-appropriate environments.
TIA also shares a connection with McArthur through its annual photo contest, presented in partnership with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) in celebration of International Tiger Day. As a contest judge, McArthur helps recognize compelling images that tell the stories of big cats in captivity and the sanctuaries dedicated to their care. The 2026 winning photograph, New Home by Emily Urfer, captures a tiger’s transition toward a brighter future.
For TIA, the UN event reinforced a central principle: meaningful progress for animals depends on turning awareness into action. By rescuing and relocating big cats from abusive or vulnerable facilities to true sanctuaries where they find permanent safety, TIA and its partners work to improve their lives. They also educate the public about the issues surrounding these efforts and advance a future in which big cats receive the protection and humane treatment they deserve.