Fair Brings Big Cats

The Arkansas State Fair is definitely the place for lots of rides, food and games. But this year it`s also featuring some lions, tigers and, no, not bears, leopards. It`s part of the Great Cats of the World Attraction. But it`s not the kind of show where cats leap through rings of fire. "Jungle Jay" Riggs says it`s an education show to learn about the animals and where they come from. The Bridgeport Nature Center in Texas takes care of about 70 big cats. The cats are not trained to do any tricks, but they are trained by food and love. Riggs says at the rate the Bengal Tigers are dying, in a quite a few years, there won`t be any left in the wild. "They come from India, there`s 2,000 left. And they`re being hunted by poachers and they die at a rate of five a week. These poachers hunt and kill them for their beautiful hide. They sell every part and they get $50,000 for each tiger they kill," said Riggs. Riggs says they may be cute and cuddly, but they do not make good pets. "We raise them in groups. Tigers have to jump and bite that`s just who they are. Either they`re gonna do it with you or each other. We`ve found it`s much better if they do it in a group," he said.