Westgate Las Vegas Drops Wild Cats From Magic Act After PETA Appeal

Dirk Arthur’s ‘Wild Magic’ Will No Longer Include Wild Cats

For Immediate Release:
November 2, 2017

Contact:
Audrey Shircliff 202-483-7382

Just days after thousands of PETA members and supporters called on Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino to prohibit notorious tiger abuser Dirk Arthur from using a bobcat and a snow leopard in his “Wild Magic” act, the casino has confirmed that his returning show will not include any wild cats.

“Today’s audiences don’t want to see wild cats bullied into performing confusing tricks,” says PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Rachel Mathews. “Westgate Las Vegas’ decision is right in step with public opinion, and PETA will continue to campaign until all wild-cat abusers are a thing of the past.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—notes that Arthur’s long history of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act includes keeping wild cats in metal cages with no protection from the scorching sun, even when temperatures reached 127 degrees. Earlier this year, he was cited for confining a tiger to an unsanitary enclosure. He has also amputated wild cats’ claws in violation of a long-standing U.S. Department of Agriculture policy and has a history of transferring wild cats to and from other unscrupulous exhibitors.

Previously, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Grand pledged not to host Arthur’s wild-cat act after appeals from PETA.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.