A shocking video displaying a visibly stressed tiger chained to the ground ready for tourists to take cheap selfies with has caused outrage on social media.
The video, which was posted on National Geographic’s Instagram page, was reportedly filmed at Thailand’s Phuket Zoo.
It shows a tiger pacing in tiny circles around a small platform, with a short chain keeping the animal restricted to a small spot.
The clearly frustrated tiger can barely stretch its legs due to the short restraint, which is used to prepare the animal for photos taken with tourists for as little as $9.
National Geographic posted the video beside the caption: “A tiger paces in circles, chained to a platform in a photo studio at the Phuket Zoo in Thailand.
“Tigers are often declawed and/or drugged to make the safer for interacting with tourists.
“Photos here are 300 baht (or about $9).
“Our intention is not to shame the tourists who have had these encounters but to arm our readers with information that will help them identify potentially abusive situations for animals.”
Users slammed the treatment of the tiger, branding the video ‘disgusting’ and ‘sickening’.
“Tourists paying for this are the biggest part of the problem. If they refuse to take part, there is no demand,” another wrote.
Many agreed that tourists should bear the responsibility for the tiger’s suffering.
“I’m sorry but maybe these people who are interacting with these poor beautiful creatures should be shamed,” one Instagram user wrote.
“So then, and only then, would they stop putting these tigers in high stress situations. It’s just so sad.”
Readers are advised to visit natgeo.com/wildlifetourism for more information.
What do you think of this video? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
First-ever plant-based training programme to launch in the UK
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 22nd January 2021
“We hope to inspire and empower the next generation of chefs through the HIT course by highlighting just how easy it is to add creative meat-free dishes to menus.” HIT Training has launched a new plant-based culinary school in the UK. The chef academy has teamed up with meat-free pioneer, Quorn to present an eight-month …
Michelin star awarded to a vegan restaurant in France for the first time
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 19th January 2021
Vegan eatery ONA has also been awarded Michelin’s green star – in recognition of its strong ethical practices. A vegan French restaurant has won a Michelin Guide star, the first for an establishment serving only meat-free products in France. Claire Vallee runs the ONA restaurant in the city of Ares, near Bordeaux, in south-west France. …
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …