Beyonce, Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy's visit to Thailand wherein they petted a baby tiger gained criticisms from animal rights activists.
An Instagram fan account shared an image published by CNN showing the family petting a baby tiger while the animal was fed on a baby bottle at FantaSea in Phuket, Thailand. Beyonce and Blue Ivy donned golden tiaras and costumes while Jay-Z wore casual attire in the photo.
The picture immediately gained criticisms from social media users saying that the photo actually represents "animal cruelty" and not a "beautiful family picture," according to Daily Mail.
Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach an expert from the World Animal Protection issued a statement saying that people should not play with tigers.
"Tourists like Beyoncé are often unaware of the cruelty tigers suffer for these tourist attractions. The tigers used for these photos are often forcibly removed from their mothers to be fed artificially by tourists. They are also crammed into tiny cages or chained to the floor for long periods," Burbach said.
Aside from the tiger, Beyonce was also criticized for riding an elephant on the same trip. PETA Foundation deputy general counsel Delcianna Winders commented about the Carter's family recent adventure.
Winders said that the family may not be aware of the cruelty involved in making animals as tourist attractions. The deputy said that the elephants and tigers are "torn away from their mothers, violently beaten by trainers, and deprived of everything natural and important to them."
Winders added that the situation is not only happening in Thailand but in the US as well. PETA encouraged people to enjoy nature but avoid participating in activities with captive animals, KDVR reported.
Recently, New York City passed a bill to prohibit people from posting photos wherein there is "hugging, patting or otherwise touching tigers in New York State." Violators of the bill will pay a fine in the amount of $500, according to Money Box.
As of this time, Beyonce and Jay-Z have not released an official statement about the animal rights issue.