Sen. Ted Cruz causes stir with photo of tiger pelt

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz caused a stir with a photo posted of him next to a rug that appears to be made of a tiger's pelt. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz caused a stir with a photo posted of him next to a rug that appears to be made of a tiger's pelt. Photo: Kolten Parker Photo: Kolten Parker Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Sen. Ted Cruz causes stir with photo of tiger pelt 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A photo of freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz kneeling with a rug that appears to be a tiger's pelt is generating a hullabaloo among activists and supporters on Thursday.

The photo, posted to Cruz's official Facebook page Wednesday, shows Texas' junior senator and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posing next to a rug that appears to be the hide and face of a tiger in a Houston office. The caption of the photo reads: “Did a little shopping for the office with United States Senator Mike Lee in Houston today.”

Many comments on the photo say the rug is not real, but Catherine Frazier, a Cruz spokeswoman, said “we have no idea” if the rug is a real tiger pelt.

Pierre Grzybowski, research and enforcement manager for The Humane Society of the United States' fur-free campaign, said the tiger's pelt “looks authentic, though we cannot be certain unless we inspected the item in person.”

Tiger's are listed as endangered species by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

“Wild tiger numbers are at an all-time low. We have lost 97% of wild tigers in just over a century. Tigers may be one of the most revered animals, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. As few as 3,200 exist in the wild today,” the website reads.

Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, issued a written statement criticizing the photo.

“If the rug is real, Ted Cruz's use of it reduces a majestic once-living being to a doormat,” she said. “Gunning down wildlife in order to make umbrella stands, rugs, and ornaments is frowned upon in the 21st century, as most people have come to learn from and be awe-inspired by the lives, intelligence, and social make-up of other living beings.”

The photo had received 15,000 “likes” and more than 6,000 comments on Facebook by Thursday morning.

Some of the discussion on the comment thread of the photo included debate over whether the rug is an actual tiger.

“This ought to piss off some liberals,” said Kevin Thomason.

Richie Carswell, of North Carolina, slammed the photo.

“Really? Tigers are endangered species,” he said.

Frazier said Cruz was “kidding about it being for the office.”

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker