ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s Internet Romeos will have to find new ways to attract mates now that it’s illegal to pose for selfies with a lion, tiger or other big cat, a practice popular on online dating sites but denounced by wildlife advocates as potentially dangerous to both man and beast.
The law prohibits direct contact between members of the public and big cats at traveling animal shows and fairs. Animal exhibitors would face fines for each violation.
Wildlife advocates say the trend is not only hazardous to humans but encourages mistreatment of endangered animals. The big cats often are taken from their mothers as cubs, poorly cared for, then neglected or discarded.
“Taking the cub away is a misery to the cub and the mother, and the cubs aren’t fed properly,” said Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a Tampa, Fla. “They don’t sell tiger milk at the pet store.”
Similar laws already are on the books in states including Mississippi, Arizona and Kansas.
