MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — The fate of a rare white tiger exhibit that’s created controversy over a scheduled appearance at the Central Wisconsin State Fair in Marshfield is still up in the air.
That’s according to the fair’s executive director Dale Christiansen, who says a meeting of the fair board Monday night produced more questions than answers, so a decision has been postponed for two more weeks.
“The meeting tonight was very information packed,” Christiansen said. “I thought it was a productive meeting, and we’re going to go back, do some more research, and come up with a decision in a couple weeks.”
Among the unanswered questions: can the exhibit operator produce proof of insurance; will some of the proceeds from the exhibit benefit the preservation of endangered Bengal tigers; and what about the future of other exotic animals on exhibit at the fair?
Fair board member Jeremy Carolfi said he wants to verify that the accusations being made against the exhibit are true. “I’d like to see the USDA case against this organization. I just don’t like taking for granted one side that says [that the exhibit’s operators are] ‘bad people.’ I want to see what they’re accused of, and if they truly are not treating these animals correctly. Then, absolutely we wouldn’t want them here.”
Nick Wayerski who also sits on the fair board proposed tabling a decision until they get more answers. “We need to make every single check possible before we go forward with approving or denying these guys as to what’s going on. And we then have to prepare for what kind of backlash is going to occur from this as well.”
Six people were on hand to speak against the exhibit during the meeting’s public comment period, including Megan Nicholson, state director of the Humane Society of Wisconsin. Brynja Bjarnason, whose online petition collected 253 signatures in just a few days, also spoke in opposition to the exhibit.
The issue gets taken up again at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, July 29th at 7:00 p.m.
