In 1900 there were 200,000 mountain lions, now there are about 20,000. The argument by hunters is that mountain lions are dangerous predators that live among us and must be hunted down and killed because they attack and kill people.

California leads the nation in documented encounters and injuries, largely due to a human population expanding into mountain lion habitats. Colorado ranks second with an average of one attack per year since 1990. Other states like Washington, Arizona, Montana and Texas also report a lesser number of incidents. Overall, however, mountain lion attacks are exceedingly rare in North America.

Having a person attacked by a mountain lion is tragic but it is also preventable. Most incidents happen when hikers, runners, or cyclists move quickly through remote areas, which can trigger the animal’s chase instinct. The attack will always be featured in the local news and, in most cases, the local response is to hunt down and kill the lion. What is rarely discussed, however, is the very low level of the actual threat, and the often extreme response by the local community.

In the last 150 years 29 people have been killed in North America by a mountain lion. In the same period of time people have reduced the mountain lion population by 180,000. Mountain lions continue to be killed at the rate of 2,500 per year. Some are killed by poison or leg traps, others are shot outright, but most die as a result of organized hunts.

For hunters eager for a big cat trophy but cannot afford the $30,000 trip to Africa to get a lion, they can hire an outfitter. In the Northwest, for $10,000 the outfitter will put you up in a lodge with a mountain lion hunting license, a snowmobile, a pack of dogs trained to hunt down and tree a mountain lion, a guide, and an automatic weapon. Treeing a lion is a cruel practice that entails using a pack of dogs trained to chase the mountain lion into the woods where it will climb a tree to avoid being killed by the dogs, and is then an easy target for the hunter to shoot out of the tree. You also get your picture taken, and the mountain lion is sent to a taxidermist to be stuffed and shipped to your house.

Hunting mountain lions has become a big business with revenue to the outfitters in excess of ten million dollars a year. The best months to hunt are September to February, with snow on the ground so the mountain lion can be easily tracked. Some outfitters claim an 80-percent success rate for mountain lion hunts. Needless to say, mountain lion hunts are highly controversial and politically charged. For example, in November 2024, Colorado voters rejected a ballot initiative to ban the hunting of mountain lions. The initiative also covered bobcats and lynx.

Usually, the byproduct of a successful hunt is orphaned cubs left to die in the wilderness. In some cases, they find their way out and local people take them in and call for help, but many do not survive.

Tigers in America is opposed to mountain lion or any other animal trophy hunting.

We were happy to fund the relocation of the cubs pictured above from Washington State to their new home in a sanctuary in the Eastern United States.

Police officers tracked the tiger to a nearby allotment where he was lying just a few meters from a small fence bordering the gardens. They climbed on to the roof of a car and fired 3 shots into the tiger, killing him “to prevent danger to those present”, police said.

The tiger named Sandokan was a 600-pound 9-year-old owned by Carmen Zander, Germany’s self-proclaimed “Tiger Queen,” who was not present at the time of the attack. Carmen performed her tiger act with various European circuses and shows, most notably Switzerland’s Circus Royal, and participated in major events like the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.

Carmen rented her tiger act to circuses for 15 years but stopped touring in 2022 and resorted to tiger breeding, petting and selfies popularized by social media to raise money to feed them. She acquired Sandokan and a white female named Saphira who gave birth to 5 cubs. Unfortunately, she made no provision for additional space and the tiger family was confined to a cramped wire cage in her back yard. As the cubs grew, the conditions became unbearable and most likely caused the mauling of the old man who went in to feed them. He was taken to the hospital where he died of his wounds.

No inquiry is planned for the officers who killed Sandokan.

The mayor of the Dölzig district, Thomas Druskat, called for the immediate removal of the enclosure. “It’s unthinkable what might have happened if other people had been injured,” he told the newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung.

She has previously faced complaints for the animals’ living conditions at the enclosure in an industrial zone of Schkeuditz, where she has kept them since 2016. The district administration office said there were eight tigers living at the facility. And they wanted them gone. The German authorities intervened after the incident with Sandokan and handed over six of the eight tigers to AAP — Animal Advocacy and Protection, one of the best organizations in Europe.

AAP sent a crew to Schkeuditz. After a health check, they loaded the cats into a transport trailer and started their 1,400-mile journey to Primadomus, their sanctuary in Alicante, Spain.

Upon their arrival, Saphira and her family began the mandatory quarantine period, where they received veterinary care and their welfare was closely monitored. Once they passed the health checks, AAP began to gradually introduce them to their new surroundings. They were first given access to transition areas designed to help them become familiar with new smells, sounds and environmental stimuli at their own pace.

Big cats, including tigers, are naturally very cautious animals and need to feel safe when faced with change. That is why we allow them to set the pace of their adaptation.”

Pablo Delgado, Head of Big Cats at AAP Spain

A long-awaited first outdoor experience

When the team was confident that all six tigers were ready, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived: opening access to their outdoor enclosure.

On 25 August, the hatches were opened for the first time. As is often the case with big cats, curiosity and caution went hand in hand. During the first few minutes, they carefully observed their surroundings from the entrance before gradually venturing out and exploring every corner of their new environment.

What comes next

A new chapter now begins. The six tigers will continue becoming familiar with this enclosure, which features a pool, shelters, platforms and other elements designed to encourage natural behaviours.

Our priority is to help them regain their natural behaviours, and that takes time. Exploring this new enclosure is another step in that process. Once they feel completely secure and comfortable in their surroundings, they will be able to move into one of the largest enclosures at the rescue centre.”

Pablo Delgado, Head of Big Cats at AAP Spain

With every step, Saphira and her cubs leave behind a past connected to human entertainment and move closer to a new life where they can enjoy the peace, space and respect they deserve.

We would like to thank Pablo and Bianca at AAP for their dedication and commitment in getting this tiger family to their new home.

We at Tigers in America were happy to provide financial support for their relocation.

He claimed the animals were safe because they were “domesticated” using specialized training called the “Luján Method”. Cubs were separated from their mothers as soon as they were born and raised alongside domestic dogs to teach them non-aggressive behaviors. Staff handled the animals 24/7 to desensitize them to human touch and noise. The animals were hand-fed so they lacked the predatory instinct to hunt or attack visitors. All this nonsense was repeated by the staff for the benefit of high-end tourists and celebrities coming in from Buenos Aires, just 45 minutes away, to hold a tiger cub. Jorge would also deliver tigers to private residences for petting parties.

It was one of the most profitable tourist attractions in the country generating more than $1 million a year for more than 10 years. Jorge kept costs to a minimum by feeding the cats roadkill and garbage and paying the staff $10 a day even though the petting generated revenue in excess of $50,000 a day.

Animal protection groups criticized the zoo, alleging the big cats had to be drugged to keep them docile around humans. Whistleblowers exposed severe welfare violations, including staff maulings, declawing and lack of vet care and the death of animals from preventable causes.

In the beginning, the big cats were supplied by Texas breeders and then by on-site breeding that continued for 25 years. The big cat population at Luján grew to 200 by 2020. Amid escalating animal welfare complaints and mounting safety concerns, Argentine authorities permanently shut down the Luján Zoo in 2020.

The closure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, completely halting the facility’s tourism revenue. When the gates closed, the public and the money disappeared, and hundreds of animals were left stranded in their cages. Jorge laid off 70 keepers and refused to pay those who remained.

A small group of former zookeepers who lost their jobs refused to walk away. They voluntarily returned for years, patching cages and pooling resources to barely keep the animals fed. One manager even sold his own cars to buy meat.

Despite the keepers’ efforts, the lack of professional veterinary care and proper food took a brutal toll.

The zoo had 200 big cats when it closed in 2020; by 2023, that number dropped to 112, and by 2025, only 62 lions and tigers survived.

Fortunately, in 2025, the global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS finally secured an agreement with the Argentine government to step in and take over the site. Veterinarians began treating the survivors for severe malnutrition, infected wounds, and organ failure. Others suffered from dental and kidney disease and complications from declawing and injuries that never healed properly.

When FOUR PAWS arrived in 2023 to assess the zoo, they found animals barely hanging on — seven lions packed into a cage no larger than a bathroom, tigers sharing enclosures with species they’d never encounter in the wild, and bears pacing endlessly on splintered floors. “Overcrowded is an understatement,” said Four Paws’ chief program officer, Luciana D’Abramo. The team performed life-saving surgeries, repairing teeth broken from biting metal bars, and treating wounds long left unattended.

In August 2026, the first phase of the rescue began: 30 lions and tigers were flown out of Argentina to high-standard international sanctuaries. Nine tigers and six lions were flown to LIONSROCK, a FOUR PAWS sanctuary in South Africa that houses more than 80 big cats across natural enclosures sprawling 60 hectares (148 acres). The remaining eight tigers and seven lions traveled to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, a vast refuge on the grasslands northeast of Denver where rescued lions, tigers and other animals roam expansive habitats. The remaining 20+ big cats and two brown bears continue to receive on-site rehabilitation while rescuers search for their permanent sanctuary homes.

The rescue marks one of the largest animal recovery efforts in Argentina’s history and comes with a government pledge to end the sale and private ownership of exotic cats nationwide. This is a very big deal.

We at Tigers in America enjoy a multiyear partnership with FOUR PAWS and would like to thank Luciana for negotiating with the Argentine government for a ban on the ownership, breeding and exhibition of the big cats and were happy to provide financial assistance for this rescue.

The 2026 winner is “New Home” by Emily Urfer.

Jo-Anne had this to say about the winning photo:

I love the action. People helping, the cage tilting, Capone looking out and very alert and engaged. He has been through so much and is about to land on his feet again with the hard work of the folks in the picture, and many others.

The runners up are:

GFAS and Tigers in America thank all the photographers for using your creativity to bring attention to big cats in need and the amazing work of sanctuaries.

These photos along with prior year winners are stored in the Awareness section of our website.

Winner of the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

Guest judge Jo-Anne McArthur had this to say about the photo:

I love the action. People helping, the cage tilting, Capone looking out and very alert and engaged. He has been through so much and is about to land on his feet again with the hard work of the folks in the picture, and many others.

Runner up in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

“In fall 2022, the Secret Garden in Las Vegas was closing after the Mirage’s sale, forcing all animals to be re-homed. The Sarmoti (Siegfried & Roy) Foundation chose WildCat Ridge Sanctuary for lifetime care of some of their tigers, including Maharani.”

Runner up in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

“Top Cat was originally part of a breeding pair (with enclosure-mate Millie) at an unaccredited roadside zoo in Ohio. They were surrendered together due to the changing legal regulations that were enacted in the state after the 2011 Zanesville Massacre. They arrived in 2013. Top Cat has been neutered, so there is no chance of accidental pregnancy, in keeping with our no-breeding policy.”

Runner up in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

“Kylo Ren was a surprise cub, being born two months after his parents were rescued. Because his mother did not nurse or bond with him, he was raised by sanctuary caretakers. When he was a few months old, he bonded with two other rescued cubs, forming the sanctuary’s famous ‘Jedi Boys.’ This beautiful, loving boy adores nose-diving into his pool, playing on his playground, and leading his brothers into plenty of mischief. Though full of playful energy, he has a deep affection for his human caretakers, frequently greeting them with warm chuffs and fence rubs. Captured here in a rare, quiet moment between naps, his gentle expression reflects a lifetime of safety and the profound trust he shares with those who have loved him since the day he was born.”

Runner up in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

“Scout was born in 2014 at a notorious breeding facility in Florida with his brother Atticus. They were pulled from their mother and sold to a roadside zoo. There they were used as photo cubs for the first 12 weeks of their lives.”

Runner up in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.

“Rescued as a rowdy, distrustful five-month-old from a facility that couldn’t match his high-energy needs, Anakin found the companionship and guidance he craved when he was introduced to Kylo Ren and Kenobi to form the legendary ‘Jedi Boys’. Once he learned to trust his caretakers, this adventurous, warmhearted ‘rebel’ truly blossomed. Today, he is a rambunctious boy who disrupts the ‘force’ by tearing across his playground, tackling blue barrels, and diving headfirst into his pool. As the most intensely food-motivated of the trio, his focus is legendary—a trait captured perfectly here as he locks eyes with the camera, fiercely claiming a massive block of ice to conquer a relentless, hot Texas afternoon.”