Time and again, heartbreaking visuals of affluent people using live animals as ‘props’ for their lavish events have surfaced on the internet. Earlier this year, a Pakistani couple posed with a sedated lion cub for their wedding shoot, and faced backlash for the same. Now, another such incident has come to the forefront that has sparked the fury of people online who wish that such wild animals be protected.
A Pakistani influencer named Susan Khan hosted her birthday party in Lahore in which a chained-up lioness was present, shackled with an iron chain. The wild cat was lying on the couch, surrounded by hundreds of party-goers amid loud music, and was used more or less like an “entertainment prop”, Times Now reports.
The incident came to light when an animal rescue organization called Protect Save Animals shared videos of the birthday party. The caption reads, “@susankhanofficial is a so-called influencer who hosted her birthday bash yesterday and needless to say it was an affair that needs to be discussed. While I am not against birthdays and how people choose to celebrate them but I am severely against people using animals as props. And that’s exactly what happened at Miss Susan’s birthday.”
The post added, “Animals are NOT decor that you can use to show your wealth and status at your events. You DO NOT get to violate another being at the expense of your leisure.” In another video, Susan can be seen petting the lioness who appears to be sedated. She had herself shared the video on her Instagram stories on her profile, but have now disappeared, India Today reports. Check it out:
A Lahore resident who was invited to the party said that the lioness wasn’t abused but wasn’t amused either, adding that, “Everyone was just sort of scared, I guess, but the majority of people really enjoyed it.” Other attendees of the party remain unsure of whether the lion was illegally rented or brought in by a guest, the report suggests.
Meanwhile, the founder of Project Save Animals, Sayed Hassan, has started an online petition to end animals being used as party props like this, and seeks the support of 1500 signatories.
People online were left furious, and the comments section is replete with remarks criticizing the influencer. Many also sought action against her. Check it out:
Visuals of wild animals away from their natural habitat are truly heartbreaking. What are your views on this incident? Tell us.