Global sensation Beyoncé has caused outrage among animal rights campaigners after sharing a photograph of herself, daughter Blue Ivy and her husband Jay Z playing with a baby tiger while on vacation in Phuket, Thailand. 

Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach, spokesperson for the World Animal Protection charity, explained in a statement that it's socially irresponsible to be shown treating an endangered species like a toy or something to boost your reputation with:

"A tiger is not a play thing. Their health and well-being should not be sacrificed for a photo opportunity... Holiday snaps like these support an industry that relies on animal cruelty... The tigers used for these photos are often crammed into tiny cages or chained to the floor for long periods."

She concluded: "They are also forcibly removed from their mothers to be fed artificially by tourists. All in all a far cry from their natural lives in the wild. But this sordid side of tourism is conveniently hidden from public view."

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