Miami School Bans Animals After Tiger Uproar

MIAMI, FL — Animal rights group PETA said Wednesday that Miami's Christopher Columbus High School has assured the organization it would no longer allow the use of wild, exotic or endangered animals at future school functions following the uproar over the caged tiger, lemur and exotic birds displayed at last weekend's senior prom. The animals were provided by a business called Predators Unlimited. Video from the prom sparked worldwide outrage and led to an apology from the school.

“Our intent is to continue to educate our students to respect wildlife and to protect all animals,” read a statement attributed to Principal David Pugh II of Columbus and provided to Patch by PETA on Wednesday. "We do not condone animal abuse in any way. In the future, we will not include any wild, exotic, and/or endangered animals in any of our school-related events and/or planned activities, nor will we use these animals for fundraisers."

PETA's statement on behalf of the principal was revised from an earlier draft after a spokesperson for the school told Patch the initial statement did not "accurately reflect" the principal's position.

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"Christopher Columbus High School took to heart the public's outrage over its decision to hold a tiger inside a tiny cage at its prom," according to PETA's Marta Holmberg. "The school now joins more than 620 venues and dozens of communities across the country that have prohibited wild-animal exhibits, and TeachKind looks forward to an animal-free future at all its future events."

In a statement posted Monday on the school website, Pugh said that the Columbus community regretted the decision to have live animals at the prom, which was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center.

"This incident in no way reflects our school’s Marist values and/or accomplishments of our young men nor our sensitivity to animal rights," according to the principal's statement. "We will immediately evaluate our current policies and procedures regarding all school activities and events. We can assure the Columbus community and all who have expressed concern, that we are sorry. We have learned a great deal from this experience."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Monday called on school officials to go further and agree to an animal ban at future events.

"Displaying a tiger in a tiny cage and allowing students to handle lemurs is cruel to the animals and dangerous for the students, and it sends the harmful message that living beings are props to be used for human amusement," Holmberg said earlier. "Wild animals aren't prom decorations."

The "Welcome to The jungle" prom theme spawned a Twitter account under the name ColumbusPromTiger: "Thank you Miami," the account said. "My date and I had a great time."

Wildlife expert Ron Magill of Zoo Miami was among those who were shocked by the prom video that appeared to show the caged tiger in distress.

"This tiger is not having a party," Magill told Local 10 News. "This tiger is being stressed out."