Video: Popular TikToker Mocks and Endangers the Health of a Lion in Yerevan Zoo

Recently, a well-known TikToker, "2_2_2_lava", posted a video from the Yerevan Zoo where he visited the zoo with a child. In the video, "2_2_2_lava" mocks the animals and, most importantly, violates zoo safety regulations, endangering the health of one of the lions. This was reported by Econews.am.

The TikToker showcased his behavior not only to the child but also to his hundreds of thousands of followers. He has over 113,000 followers and more than 7 million likes on the TikTok social platform; however, it is evident from the videos that he has not been able to grasp several simple safety rules.

Animals often fall victim to the obsession of engaging followers on social media. Many active users exploit animals for entertainment, filming everything, and sharing it on social platforms, thereby promoting such irresponsible behavior. This behavior is unacceptable and intolerable, especially since it can harm the animal’s health.

In the video, TikToker "2_2_2_lava" throws his hat into the lion's enclosure with a comment, "I’m throwing the hat for them to play with... a gift for them." The lion picks up the hat and walks away, and in the next video, the animal is seen chewing on it.

Incidents where animals are harmed due to irresponsible visitor behavior are recorded in many zoos around the world. For example, in March 2021, a bald eagle at the Moscow Zoo fell ill. The eagle, which appeared unwell on March 13, was sent to a clinic, where four veterinarians fought for the bird's life, but they were unable to save it. A statement said, "It suffered for one day and died. The cause was a glove found in its intestines. Not a working glove, but one from a visitor." The Moscow Zoo reported that the eagle's demise was due to a visitor's whim, who decided to mock the bird out of boredom.

Such incidents happen in many zoos around the world and are linked to the irresponsible behavior and whims of visitors. The most effective way to prevent such cases is to raise the level of public education. In this case, TikToker "2_2_2_lava" needs to be informed about the possible consequences of his actions if he has not been able to independently recognize the foolishness of his behavior.