Tinder Urges Users To Stop Posting Tiger Selfies

Tinder has made an appeal to users, asking them to stop posting pictures taken with tigers on the dating platform, following pressure from animal activists.

In a blog post, Tinder said: “It’s time for the tiger selfies to go. More often than not, these photos take advantage of beautiful creatures that have been torn from their natural environment. Wild animals deserve to live in the wild.

“We are looking to you, as part of our Tinder community, to make a change. Take down your tiger photos, and we will make it worth your while by donating $10,000 to Project Cat in honor of International Tiger Day.”

The move comes after PETA urged the Match Group-owned app to ban tiger selfies ahead of International Tiger Day on Saturday 29th July.

PETA’s associate director of campaigns Ashley Fruno said: “Not only are these types of photos cruel to animals, unaware Tinderlings might also mistake them for cute, harmless pictures and be prompted to take part in this abusive industry themselves.

“Baby tigers and other animals used at photo attractions are typically torn away from their distraught mothers when they’re just days old. They are then subjected to extreme stress and physical abuse.

“By taking the tiger stripes out of swipes, you’ll be sending a message to the Tinder community that in modern-day matchmaking, cruelty to animals should never be on offer.”

In August 2014, tiger selfies were inadvertently banned in New York when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill to stop people from having direct contact with any large cat at zoos, carnivals, circuses, travelling animal shows and fairs.

Along with the call to its user base, Tinder also created the hashtag #NoTigerSelfies, asking people to join in the conversation and tag their friends.

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