POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) - A Nevada man who keeps tigers and other endangered large cats is challenging in court a decision by the Idaho Department of Agriculture that prevents him from moving his operation into the state.

Peter Renzo is a licensed big cats trainer and president of the Siberian's Are Becoming Rapidly Extinct Foundation, or S.A.B.R.E. Foundation, based in Carson City, Nev., and dedicated to saving endangered big cats. He started the foundation in 2001.

He owns five Siberian tigers and a black leopard, and said he expects to have two more white Bengal tigers at the end of this month.

In October, he announced plans to move his nonprofit operation to eastern Idaho, where he said he wants to breed the cats and perform live shows.

But the state Department of Agriculture barred the move.

Greg Ledbetter, administrator and state veterinarian of the Division of Animal Industries, recently wrote Renzo a letter explaining the decision.

The letter said the department had questions about Renzo's qualifications, and that any such move would require all the cats be spayed or neutered before entering Idaho.

Renzo said he's been licensed to exhibit big cats for more than 30 years, and cited the endangered status of his tigers and black leopard as why he will not spay or neuter the animals.

He filed a request for a judicial review of the agency's decision with 7th District Judge Darren B. Simpson. That review is scheduled for April 21.

"Basically, I don't understand the other side of the story," Renzo said. "Who the hell wants to castrate an endangered animal?"

Ledbetter did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Renzo said that if a resolution isn't reached at the April 21 review, he will continue with legal action against the department. He said he has the same rights as other zoos in the state.

"We want to save all the cats," he told the Idaho State Journal. "If we can save a cat, we're going to save it. There's also not that many Siberians left worldwide, and it's hard to keep count because they're so elusive and stay in forested areas. We need to keep a viable population of them because we're losing them."

Renzo said that if the judicial review goes his way, he will open the "Tiger Pavilion" sometime this summer. He said a location hasn't been selected, but it will likely be between Idaho Falls and Blackfoot.

"It's a beautiful area," he said.