Animals were used for recreational purposes by humans throughout history, for their magnificent strength in the form of animal fights and contests of strength. But all these have just been recorded in the annals of history with time, increasing awareness and consideration of animal cruelty. But the question of animal cruelty has once again come to the fore through a video that has gone viral on social media.
The viral video shows a bodybuilder challenging a lion to a tug-of-war. The footage, which is widely shared on internet platforms, shows the wild animal grabbing and pulling a rope with its teeth as the muscular man tries to overpower it. Spectators at the scene were seen filming and cheering, ignoring the ethical implications and the lion’s well-being. This incident has sparked a debate about the treatment of animals for entertainment and the thin line between shows of strength and animal cruelty.
In the viral video, a beefed-up man is seen on one side of the rope, pulling with all his might to defeat his fierce competitor – a lion. The rope is tied to one of the lion’s legs, forcing the animal to hold onto it with its teeth and participate in the tug of war. The video then ends abruptly, leaving viewers in suspense about the outcome of the match. The video has received nearly 5 million views and 2,000 comments, with many netizens expressing curiosity and disappointment at not seeing the conclusion.
The practice of pitting humans against wild animals in tug-of-war competitions is not new and is reportedly allowed in some zoos around the world. Zoos such as San Antonio Zoo in Texas and Dartmoor Zoo in England have been known to charge visitors for the chance to test their mettle against a lion. However, this practice has been met with strong opposition from animal lovers and activists, who claim it constitutes animal cruelty.
According to various reports available online, in 2019 several people raised their voices against such activities at Dartmoor Zoo in England and signed petitions to stop these events. Critics argue that forcing animals to participate in such competitions can cause them unnecessary stress and harm. They emphasize that wild animals should not be used for entertainment purposes, and their welfare should be the highest priority.
