Can You Own a Tiger in Arkansas? What State and Federal Law Say

Tigers are among the most powerful animals on Earth, and the question of whether you can legally own one in Arkansas has a clear answer: no, you cannot — at least not as a private individual. Arkansas banned new private ownership of tigers and other large carnivores back in 2005, and a federal law passed in 2022 reinforced that prohibition at the national level.

If you have ever been curious about the rules, the exceptions, or what happens when someone breaks them, this guide walks through every layer of the law that applies to tiger ownership in Arkansas — from state statutes to county ordinances to federal regulations.

Is It Legal to Own a Tiger in Arkansas?

Private individuals cannot legally possess animals such as lions, tigers, and similar large predators in Arkansas. This is not a gray area or a matter of obtaining the right paperwork — the state drew a firm line more than two decades ago and has not moved it since.

Large carnivores represent one major prohibited category under Arkansas law. Large carnivores are defined as bears, lions, and tigers, and can only be possessed by individuals who owned them on or before August 12, 2005, and obtained grandfathered permits. No new private ownership of these animals is permitted.

That means if you are asking this question today, the answer is no. The window for grandfathered ownership closed in 2005, and no new permits for private tiger possession have been issued since. If you want to observe these animals up close, Arkansas has wildlife facilities and petting zoos that offer safe, legal alternatives.

Key Insight: Arkansas defines “large carnivore” specifically as a bear, lion, or tiger under A.C.A. § 20-19-501. This statutory definition is what triggers the ownership ban — not a general category of dangerous animals.

What Federal Law Says About Tiger Ownership

Even if Arkansas state law were somehow more permissive, federal law would still block private tiger ownership. The federal framework has tightened significantly in recent years, and it now operates independently of whatever any individual state allows.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act was enacted December 20, 2022, to end the private ownership of big cats as pets and prohibit exhibitors from allowing public contact with big cats, including cubs. It placed new restrictions on the commerce, breeding, possession, and use of certain big cat species.

The BCPSA makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or breed or possess prohibited wildlife species — lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and cougars, or any hybrids thereof — with certain exceptions.

The law did include a narrow grandfather provision. In order to continue to legally possess privately owned big cats, the Act required individuals or entities to register any big cats that were in their possession before the date of enactment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unless another exception of the Act applies. This registration had to occur no later than June 18, 2023, which was 180 days after the date of enactment. Registration is now closed.

The Act does not allow pre-Act owners to acquire additional big cats after December 20, 2022. So even someone who held a registered tiger before that date cannot add another animal to their collection. You can read the full federal requirements on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

The federal law also addresses the broader conservation picture. This legislation helps prevent captive tigers from ending up in the illegal trade of their parts and products — a primary threat to big cats in the wild. To learn more about the Bengal tiger and the conservation challenges it faces, including the pressures created by captive breeding, that background is worth understanding before drawing any conclusions about ownership.

Important Note: Federal BCPSA registration is permanently closed as of June 18, 2023. No mechanism currently exists for a new private individual to legally possess a tiger under federal law, regardless of state rules.

Arkansas’s Laws on Owning a Tiger

Arkansas addressed large carnivore ownership at the state level years before the federal government acted. The primary statute is found at A.C.A. § 20-19-501 through 20-19-510, which governs the ownership and possession of large carnivores in the state.

Under the law, a large carnivore is defined as a bear, lion, or tiger. A person may possess a large carnivore only if he or she was in possession of the large carnivore on or before August 12, 2005, and the person applied for and was granted a permit for personal possession for each large carnivore not more than 180 days after August 12, 2005.

Except for these “grandfathered” possessors and other entities — zoos, USDA permittees, veterinary hospitals, and similar organizations — it is illegal for anyone to own, possess, breed, or transfer ownership of a large carnivore.

Arkansas regulates exotic animals primarily through its captive wildlife rules, which are maintained and enforced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. These regulations divide animals into three broad categories: species that are unrestricted, species that require permits or special approval, and species that are prohibited. Tigers fall squarely in the prohibited category for private ownership. You can review the current regulations directly through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Arkansas also prohibits importing these animals. It is illegal to import African lions, tigers, bears, or mountain lions into Arkansas. A USDA Wildlife Exhibition Permit is required and is the only exception to this rule, and the entity must also possess a current Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Importation Permit.

For context on the broader range of tiger species that exist in the wild and in captivity, it is worth noting that all subspecies — from Amur to Sumatran — fall under the same prohibition in Arkansas. The ban is not species-specific; it covers tigers as a category.

Permits and Requirements for Tiger Ownership in Arkansas

Because new private ownership of tigers is banned outright, there is no standard permit pathway that a private resident can pursue to legally obtain one. The permit system that does exist is reserved for specific, narrow categories of entities — not members of the general public.

The following entities are exempt from the general prohibition and may possess large carnivores under specific conditions:

• Accredited zoos and wildlife sanctuaries
• A person or organization with a United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Exhibition Permit, which allows taking the large carnivore to schools and other exhibitions for educational or fundraising purposes
• Employees of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission in the performance of their duties; persons holding a valid AGFC Scientific Collection Permit applicable to a large carnivore; and persons or organizations with an AGFC Wildlife Breeder/Dealer Permit
• Animal control officers or law enforcement officers acting under the authority of the subchapter
• Veterinary hospitals providing medical care

For the narrow class of grandfathered owners who held permits issued before 2005, specific ongoing requirements applied. The large carnivore must be spayed or neutered before a permit is issued to the possessor, unless a veterinarian confirms that spaying or neutering would endanger the animal. A record of the procedure must be kept on file by the permit holder.

The possessor of a large carnivore must allow an official of the county sheriff’s department, an animal control officer, an Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission game warden, or a law enforcement officer of the municipality or county where the large carnivore is kept to enter the premises to ensure compliance.

The possessor of a large carnivore may not bring the animal to any commercial or retail establishment unless bringing it to a veterinarian clinic. If a large carnivore escapes or is released, the possessor must immediately contact the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission and law enforcement officials of the city or county where the possessor resides to report the escape or release.

Pro Tip: If you are interested in working with big cats legally, look into volunteering or interning with an accredited sanctuary or zoo in Arkansas. These organizations operate under the permits described above and offer real hands-on experience with large carnivores.

Local Laws That May Apply in Arkansas

State law sets the floor, but local governments in Arkansas can — and often do — add their own restrictions on top of it. Even if a species were legal at the state level, your city or county might still prohibit it.

State law represents only one layer of exotic pet regulation. Even if state law allows a species, local city or county laws may ban or more tightly regulate exotic pets. Major cities often impose restrictions beyond state requirements, particularly for animals perceived as dangerous or nuisance-prone.

Many local cities and counties have their own restrictions on which animals are legal to keep and which are not. In practice, this means that even if you somehow qualified for an exemption under state law, a city ordinance in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, or any other Arkansas municipality could still prohibit you from keeping a tiger within city limits.

There are also practical considerations beyond ordinances. Homeowners associations may also restrict exotic pet ownership regardless of legal status. If you rent, your lease almost certainly prohibits dangerous animals as well. Arkansas also has specific animal control laws at the local level that give municipalities broad authority to regulate animals deemed dangerous to the public.

Before you act on any assumption about what is or is not permitted where you live, contact your local animal control office or city clerk directly. Because Arkansas relies heavily on regulatory lists that can change over time, anyone considering an exotic animal should review the current Arkansas Game and Fish Commission captive wildlife regulations before acquiring an animal.

The federal layer also applies everywhere in the state without exception. It is your responsibility to follow all local, state, tribal, and federal laws and regulations regarding prohibited wildlife species. Registration under the Big Cat Public Safety Act does not constitute authorization to engage in any activity prohibited by such laws and regulations.

Penalties for Illegally Owning a Tiger in Arkansas

The consequences of illegally possessing a tiger in Arkansas are serious at both the state and federal levels. Enforcement involves multiple agencies, and the financial and legal exposure can be significant.

State-Level Penalties

A person who is in violation of the prohibitions of § 20-19-502 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Beyond the criminal charge itself, the financial and practical consequences compound quickly.

Violating Arkansas’ exotic animal laws carries significant legal and financial penalties. Under Arkansas Code 5-62-127, unauthorized possession of restricted species can result in misdemeanor charges, with fines ranging from $100 to $5,000 per offense. Repeat violations or cases involving particularly dangerous animals may lead to felony charges and potential jail time.

The AGFC has the authority to confiscate any unlawfully possessed animal. Confiscated animals are typically relocated to licensed sanctuaries, zoos, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. In some cases, particularly involving large carnivores or venomous species, euthanasia may be the only viable option. Owners may also be financially responsible for the costs of capturing, housing, and rehoming the seized animal. Individuals found in violation of exotic animal laws may be permanently barred from obtaining future wildlife permits.

The county sheriff’s department seeks to place any confiscated large carnivore with a wildlife sanctuary, humane society, or an institution accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. You will not receive compensation for the animal regardless of what you paid for it.

Federal-Level Penalties

Anyone who violates the Big Cat Public Safety Act can face up to $20,000 in fines and up to 5 years in prison. Federal charges can stack on top of state charges, meaning a single illegal tiger could expose you to prosecution under both legal frameworks simultaneously.

Violators are subject to civil or criminal penalties, or both, including potential fines, imprisonment, or both. Big cats bred, possessed, imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased contrary to the provisions of the Act are subject to seizure and forfeiture. The Animal Legal Defense Fund provides additional background on how federal enforcement works under the BCPSA.

The bottom line is straightforward. If you are a private resident of Arkansas and you acquire a tiger today, you face criminal exposure at both the state and federal levels, the near-certain loss of the animal, and personal financial liability for all costs associated with its seizure and care. Arkansas wildlife is worth appreciating — from the snakes and hawks to the owls and eagles found across the state — but tigers are not part of that picture for private owners. If your interest in big cats runs deep, consider supporting an accredited wildlife refuge like Turpentine Creek, which operates legally in Arkansas and provides lifetime care for rescued big cats.