LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – Local guides are considering a request from a traveling illusionist looking to house tigers right on the Las Vegas Strip in the name of money and magic.
It is the second time the controversial project has been proposed and resistance is already growing.
“It only makes the strip cheaper to put up a plastic tent with a sideshow. This is how it is perceived. What do we do?” animal rights activist Linda Faso said in July 2020 after district officials overruled objections from their own staff and approved magician Jay Owenhouse to put on a temporary show ashore across from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
“We’re excited to bring our show to Las Vegas,” Owenhouse said at the time. “We believe this is the perfect time. It is a privilege to be part of the way back from Las Vegas.”
But this road was a dead end.
“We could not continue on this country due to the economic situation of COVID,” said Owenhouse on Tuesday afternoon in an interview in his law firm. “So we spent about a year looking for exactly the right place.”
This location is part of 11 acres near the corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue. It is currently a World Buddhism Association car park.
Owenhouse is doing the show with his three children and would like to perform in the country for a year and house tigers.
“It’s a great show that has a great message about family working together and really a message of hope that I think is really appropriate in these times,” he said.
The show’s three female Bengal tigers would perform in a circus-style tent.
In addition to his request to allow “naturally dangerous exotic animals”, Owenhouse also wants souvenir sales, a restaurant and alcohol consumption on the property.
He says they will use a portion of their proceeds to fund tiger conservation and efforts to combat poaching in the wild.
“We focus on just educating people about the plight of the tiger and how animals really need to be treated,” he said.
“How does a magic show inform people of the plight of the tiger in the wild?” 13 Chief Investigator Darcy Spears asked Owenhouse.
“Well, we spend about 15 minutes in our live performance, not only sharing our animals with people during the show, but also talking about tigers in the wild,” he replied.
He plans to spend $ 150,000 on the enclosure the animals will live in on the property.
“It’s a very nice temporary facility; It’s over 1,800 square feet for three tigers, “he said.” It has two swimming pools. It has two waterfalls. It has enriching toys. “
And he stresses that his top priority is the safety of both the tigers and the community.
“Tigers are at the top of the food chain. They are designed by God to be predators. They are carnivores. But that doesn’t mean they can’t have great relationships with people, “Owenhouse said.
An emergency plan includes four security fences, 24-hour video surveillance and armed security guards. The public is not allowed to interact with the animals, but the plan covers all eventualities, including killing the tigers if they escape and attack an audience or crew member.
Back in 2020, when Owenhouse first asked for approval, Linda Faso said: “People’s attitudes towards animal performance are changing. Had it not been for that, Ringling Bros. would never have gone out of business. You didn’t sell the tickets. It’s just a dwindling industry and it’s an abusive industry. “
Owenhouse wanted to address some previous criticisms from animal rights activists.
“Someone said, ‘Well, tigers don’t want to perform. Tigers don’t want to appear in a magic show. How do you know they want to perform? ‘ And it kind of made me laugh because I thought you know how do you know when your dog wants to drive the car? How do you know when your dog wants to go for a walk? ”He said.
If approved, Owenhouse plans to open its doors in February.
Many animal welfare advocates, including Howard Baskin of Big Cat Rescue, known as the “Tiger King,” have written letters asking district leaders to decline the application – or at least request accreditation of the facility from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries as Owenhouse claims it will be a “sanctuary”.
Owenhouse says he has no plans to get accreditation.
Whatever the Winchester Town Advisory Board decides, the application must go to the entire County Commission on December 22nd. A public comment was scheduled for a town hall meeting of the Winchester Board on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
