A 'moronic' zoo has been blasted for letting children as young as eight play a tug-of-war with lions and tigers in a £15-a-ticket 'human v beast challenge'.
Dartmoor Zoo launched its 'human v beast' challenge earlier this month, which sees four people being pitted against one of its big cats in an activity that zoo keepers have said the animals find 'enriching'.
The experience at the Plymouth-based zoo costs £15 per person and is set to help create the 'best welfare possible' for the animals. In an advertisement for the experience on the zoo's Facebook page, which features a video of a zoo keeper partaking it says that 'this type of enrichment is very important to keep the cats fit and healthy'.
It adds that it makes the cats 'work their food and build muscle mass'. However, animal rights groups have hit back at the zoo and have said the experience has 'no respect for the animals', while others branded the organisers as 'morons'.
A still from a video which had been filmed of Jasirir the lion (pictured above) during the experience
The lion at Dartmoor Zoo takes part in a tug of war with some visitors in an ultimate human vs beast challenge
Datmoor Zoo owner Ben Mee (pictured above)posing with one of the zoo's tigers
In a tweet to Datmoor Zoo, The Born Free Foundation said: '@.DartmoorZoo to offer 'Human vs Beast Experience' this February half-term. Is a tug of war game with a lion or tiger really the way to inspire respect for these animals? RT to urge the zoo to rethink this! #Don'tBuyCaptivity #KeepWildlifeinTheWild.'
This is while other activists said: 'Is this for real? What moron thought that this was a good idea'.
During the experience competitors take on either the zoo's male tiger Dragan or its male lion Jasirir.
Meat is attached to a rope to bait the animals and when it picks it up the participants, which are on the other side of the fence, take up the other end of rope for a tug-of-war.
The tiger and lion enclosure at Dartmoor Zoo in Plymouth
The Born Free Foundation urged people to boycott the event at Dartmoor Zoo
Dartmoor Zoo launched the experience earlier this month which it says helps 'enrich' the animals
Senior zoo keeper Simon Moore said this sort of experience is 'essential' for the animals.
He said: 'In captivity, its essential for us to try to mimic the behaviours to create the best welfare possible.
'We do a lot of enrichment for the cats and this is just one type'.
This is while the zoo's CEO Benjamin Mee said the activity is common across other zoos and wildlife parks.
Miriam the tiger (pictured above) is one of the big cats which take part in the experience
Jasirir the lion (pictured above) roaming the enclosure at Dartmoor Zoo
The human vs beast experience will be available between February 16, and February 24, and will cost £15 per person. Children can take part although they have to be at least eight-years-old
'The lions like it', he said. 'The public like it and it's working well. It is regarded as really good enrichment for the animals, whether the public are involved or not'.
Social media users also aired their frustration at the activity with one user saying that the zoo was 'shameful'.
'Shameful. How about baiting some of your bears whilst you're at it? You are supposed to be conserving the future of these animals - a position of responsibility - not exploiting and abusing them for profit! Disgraceful.'
One Twitter user @paulwrites said: 'Are they living in medieval times? Whoever thought of this and backed it should think very carefully about demonising animals as commodities for profit.'
The lion at Dartmoor Zoo near Plymouth which is being used for a tug of war attraction
A zoo keeper is followed by a tiger at Dartmoor Zoo. Tigers are also taking part in the new attraction which has sparked controversy
Benjamin Mee (pictured above) the owner of Dartmoor Zoo which is offering guests a tug-of-war experience against a tiger or lion
This is while Jo Hollis said: 'Dartmoor zoo should be ashamed of themselves. Please explain how this is conservation allowing people near WILD ANIMALS. It's not! It's a money grabbing scheme at the animals expense.'
In a statement Mr Moore also added that the rope-pulling exercise creates a brief period of heightened exercise for the cats involved.
'This simulates the natural hunting and feeding behaviour of both species, where any feeds would be proceeded by the exertions involved in hunting down, restraining and killing a prey animal. For the lions it additionally reflects the competition between members of the pride for their share of the kill.
'The welfare of the animals is constantly assessed by the keepers monitoring the experience. They keep a close eye on physical effects of the exercise to ensure that animals are not over-exerting themselves or otherwise at risk of physical damage. The activity had to be approved by the Ethics Committee at the Zoo.
'In addition, the activity is fully risk assessed, with the human participants receiving a Health and Safety briefing prior to the event. The keeper assigned to supervise the human part of the experience will also be working to ensure that the rope-pull itself is undertaken in a safe manner for the humans and animals involved.'
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News Photo 'Moronic' Dartmoor Zoo sparks fury for letting children as young as eight play TUG-OF-WAR with Lions
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