PETA's Letter to Office of Inspector General

October 17, 2003

Phyllis Fong, Inspector General
USDA
Office of Inspector General, Rm. 117W
1400 Independence Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20250

2 pages via fax: 202-690-1278

Dear Ms. Fong,

PETA respectfully requests that the Office of Inspector General conduct an investigation into alleged misconduct by USDA-APHIS employees who participated in the April 30, 2003, USDA Big Cat Symposium held in Las Vegas. We have learned that 10 USDA staff members, including APHIS inspectors, accepted free passes, valued at $1,100, to the Siegfried & Roy show during this event.

We ask that the investigation determine whether any USDA official with oversight responsibilities for the Nevada region has been involved in criminal activities, such as bribery, acceptance of other gratuities from Las Vegas exhibitors, or sharing of any stock or financial interests in businesses associated with licensed Las Vegas-area exhibitors. We also expect this investigation to result in charges against the licensed exhibitor(s) if it is confirmed that anyone associated with Siegfried & Roy, the Mirage, and/or Feld Entertainment provided an illegal gratuity in an apparent attempt to improperly influence official USDA personnel in the performance of their duties.

PETA suspects that favoritism or bribery may have played a role in the USDA’s repeated failure to cite Siegfried & Roy for the unsafe handling of adult tigers who were routinely allowed dangerously close to the audience with no safety barrier. Casino owner Steve Wynn viewed videotape of the October 3 mauling of Roy Horn at the Mirage by a tiger named Montecore and noted that Montecore put his 26-inch head just four inches away from a woman in the audience. This tiger could have easily leaped off the stage and attacked audience members. It is inconceivable that 10 USDA officials in attendance at the show would not recognize that walking a 600-pound tiger on a leash near the audience is both extraordinarily dangerous and in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Additionally, according to KLAS-TV news in Las Vegas, a former Mirage employee reported that “in 2000, the tigers chewed through the fence at the Secret Garden and security guards used emergency procedures to get ahold of the tigers before animal handlers stepped in.” This was, apparently, only
minutes before the Secret Garden opened to the public. Moreover, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that on one occasion, one of Roy Horn’s white tigers “had to be restrained from going into a mock audience made up of cast members.” During this dangerous incident, dancers seated in the audience were frightened when the tiger moved toward them. Inspection reports of Siegfried & Roy and the Mirage reveal that the USDA never cited them for these incidents.

We kindly ask that this matter be fully investigated and that appropriate actions be taken. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Lisa Wathne
Captive Exotic Animal Specialist

See Also

Ask NBC to Stop Hiding the Truth About Roy Horn's Attack Tiger Attacks Roy Horn About Siegfried & Roy P!nk's Christmas Wish PETA's Letter to Office of Inspector General PETA’s Letter to Siegfried & Roy PETA’s Letter to the USDA PETA Gathers at Mirage List of Big Cat Attacks Captive Tigers: A Tragedy Waiting to Happen

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