AKF Urges End to 'Wildlife Selfies' Amid Baluarte Zoo Lion Issue

(SPOT.ph) A call to stop the trend of posing and taking pictures with animals is spreading online, as led by animal rights' group Animal Kingdom Foundation. Their statement comes after people online began calling out Baluarte Zoo in Vigan for allegedly not treating their main star, a rare white lion named King, like the royalty he is. 

Also read: Masbate Zoo Closes Following Viral Video of Cat With Snake

King’s Viral Video Featured on AKF’s Facebook

Clips of people posing and snapping pics with the wild animal were the first things that had people online concerned. Social media users noticed King’s weary expression in the videos, calling for the chained animal’s improved treatment, if not an outright rescue. 

Animal rights groups, such as the AKF and Strategic Power for Animal Respondents (SPAR) Philippines, agree that King appears uncomfortable and generally looks exhausted.

This prompted the AKF to post a statement on Facebook addressing King’s alleged mistreatment and highlighting the broader issue surrounding selfies with wild animals in zoos.

"Worldwide campaign against Wildlife Selfies and Photo Ops have been around to raise awareness about the mistreatment [or] cruelty involved, the drugging issues, the safety concerns, ethical considerations surrounding this practice," wrote the organization. 

AKF is referring to the caretakers' questionable actions, which reportedly include pulling King’s tail, pushing him around, and kicking his leg to make him pose for photos.

Additionally, the organization has raised concerns about possible "drugging issues," citing reports from individuals who suspect that King might be drugged, given his groggy demeanor. Zoos around the world have been known to use antidepressants, tranquilizers, or antipsychotic drugs to manage the stress and aggression of animals in captivity.

AKF has also called out those participating in or paying for wildlife selfies, urging, "The only solution is to STOP the selfies and photo ops with wildlife in zoos. Your peso for the selfie is financing and perpetuating this cruel practice."

In an effort to prompt change, people are tagging the zoo’s founder, Chavit Singson, in AKF’s posts and writing him an open letter to push him to take action. The zoo is yet to issue a statement as of writing.

So next time you’re snapping a selfie with a lion or any other wild animal in a zoo, maybe it’s worth asking: Is being able to take a picture with these majestic creatures up close really worth their captivity?