Our Mission

Kimya was formed with the purpose of inspiring people throughout the world to treat all living creatures with respect and dignity. Our mission is to ensure captive wild animals in the United States receive responsible lifelong care in appropriate environments where they can live in safety and with dignity.

The Problem

The majority of captive wild animals in the US are held in private ownership, outside of zoos and other licensed facilities, as part of a thriving and growing exotic animal trade. These animals are treated as commodities, sold and bred for profit, their lives shaped by inconsistent and often sub-standard care.

Many organizations devote a portion of their efforts to this important issue, but there is a lack of coordinated effort and no one organization can solve this complex problem. Kimya Animal Welfare Network was established to focus exclusively on this problem.

The Solution

Kimya's primary directive is to promote cooperation among animal welfare organizations and to initiate and coordinate collaborative strategies to solve the many problems facing captive wild animals. Operating in this collaborative manner we will focus our efforts on:

Managing a collaborative effort to develop comprehensive Sanctuary Standards of Care & Operation (SSCO) by Dec 31, 2004.

Managing the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition (CWAPC), a broad-based consortium of zoo professionals, sanctuary operators, and animal protection groups working to significantly reduce the availability, volume and presence of dangerous wild animals as pets by 2006.

Establishing the Kimya Animal Welfare Network Fund (KAWNF), and begin disbursing funds by 2007 to support projects that promote the welfare of captive wild animals.

Support Kimya's work: Make a donation now

Large cats have long been a favorite of the exotic pet industry. There are more than 10,000 pet tigers in the United States. That's more than the estimated number of tigers remaining in the wild.

In many instances, large cats are used as "watch cats" and many are destined to live miserable lives. Those whose body parts are not sold as medicines or aphrodisiacs often end up declawed, defanged and living in appalling conditions. Many are bred several times, only to have their cubs taken away when they are only a few days old to be hand-reared for the exotic pet trade.

Large cats suffer from a variety of health problems in captive environments. Most illnesses stem from poor nutrition, lack of proper medical care and inadequate housing. Poor nutrition and confinement often lead to metabolic bone disease, which is easily preventable with proper nutrition. Debilitated animals suffer from bones so weak that they can fracture under the animal's own weight. Many large cats also develop cataracts due to poor nutrition.

Although these animals can never be returned to the wild, we can ensure that they live the remainder of their lives in a stimulating, peaceful and healthy environment. < Read more >

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