Caged Tiger Featured at Miami High School Prom Causes Controversy
Grrrrrr: A Miami-area high school took their jungle themed prom to the next level — and some thought it was too far — as organizers brought a caged, wild tiger to the dance.
The move upset many students (and their parents) of Christopher Columbus High School, who complained that putting a wild animal in a cage and subjecting it to flashing lights and loud music is animal abuse.
“Tigers are wild animals. They don’t need to be displayed as objects for our amusement. They don’t like the fire, the cages, the music, the teenagers with the cameras, they didn’t ask for that, they don’t have voices,” the sister of a student told CBS Miami.
The dance also included other wild animals: a lemur, two macaws, and an African fennec fox.
“The animals were provided by facilities that are licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The tiger, which was displayed for a few minutes in a cage was never harmed or in danger, was not forced to perform, was always accompanied by his handlers, and for the great majority of the time was lying down in a relaxed state facing away from the audience,” officials at the high school responded in a statement.
Yes, that's a LIVE TIGER at PROM. Miami school's 'Welcome to the Jungle' themed dance featured a caged cat, leaving at least one parent to worry about the message that sends to students. 🐯 https://t.co/Vsw42PqYnq
— HLN (@HLNTV) May 14, 2018
