A private zoo in Florida is offering visitors a chance to swim with tiger cubs for a fee of $200

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Located near Tampa, Dade City’s Wild Things promotes the activity as an “amazing encounter” where guests can play with the cubs, bottle-feed them, and swim together.

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The experience, which includes a CD with photos and videos of the interaction, allows participants to get up close with tigers weighing less than 40 pounds, which aligns with state regulations on public interactions with large cats. For an additional $10, spectators can watch the activity.

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While the zoo advertises this as a unique opportunity, animal rights advocates criticize it, claiming the practice harms the cubs.

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Critics argue that the cubs are frequently woken up and forced into interactions for photo opportunities and playtime, which they find stressful.

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One commenter on the 911 Animal Abuse website highlighted the stress swimming sessions place on the cubs, saying, “The cub has to swim for dear life.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned Dade City’s Wild Things after inspectors found that a handler had forced a hesitant tiger cub into a swimming pool.

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When the cub tried to leave the pool, the handler made it continue swimming instead of ending the session.

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The USDA report from September 2011 detailed how the cub swam toward the handler and tried to climb out, but the encounter was prolonged.

The zoo defends the practice, claiming the animals enjoy swimming and are easier to manage in the water.

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The zoo’s website explains that tigers are excellent swimmers, using the webbing between their toes like flippers.

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The zoo states that cubs are introduced to water gradually, starting with baths before moving to the pool.

In addition to tiger cub encounters, the zoo offers swimming lessons with alligators whose mouths are taped shut for safety.

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