The Lesniak Institute for American Leadership at Kean University in Union, New Jersey—named for longtime New Jersey Senator Raymond (“Ray”) J. Lesniak—presented Tigers in America and its founder and president, Bill Nimmo, with its Wildlife Champion Award at its most recent Champions of the Wild gala. The special honor was a major highlight of the annual celebration.
Since its inception, Tigers in America has become a national leader in protecting captive big cats. The organization has granted roughly $2 million to rescue and relocate animals from dangerous, neglectful, or exploitative situations (e.g., roadside zoos and circuses) throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world, including conflict zones such as in the Ukraine. Through careful transport, veterinary care, and placement in accredited sanctuaries, these cats are given lifelong safety and stability. The organization also supports genetic analysis to develop tools for conservation and to end the tiger trade.
The Award recognized an extraordinary milestone: 530 big cats, including 350 captive-bred tigers, rescued and relocated over the past 13 years across 80 individual rescue efforts. A two-minute video, filmed at New Jersey's Popcorn Park Zoo and excerpted from extensive interview footage, captures the essence of the award.
Senator Lesniak and Bill Nimmo have worked closely together since they first met in 2011. “Bill got me started on animal welfare legislation way back when,” Senator Lesniak remarked. Their first collaborative effort proposed tracking and registering New Jersey’s captive tigers to prevent illegal trafficking of tiger parts.
Through the Lesniak Institute, Senator Lesniak went on to support Tigers in America’s efforts to help pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which became federal law on December 20, 2022. The legislation bans private ownership of big cats and prohibits public contact with them, improving both public safety and animal welfare nationwide.
United by their shared vision of a brighter future for wildlife, the Lesniak Institute and Tigers in America are driving lasting change and measurable impact for vulnerable animals in their communities and far beyond.