Khloe Kardashian has been criticised by animal charities after posing with a tiger cub during a recent trip to Dubai.
The 30-year-old took a selfie with the young tiger cub kissing her cheek.
Khloe and the cub appeared to be sitting on a sofa, causing speculation that the animal is being kept as a pet.
World Animal Protection told Mail Online that they were concerned Khloe’s celebrity status was glossing over the plight of many tigers born captive and used in entertainment.
Charity spokesperson Silia Smith said: “We're disappointed to see yet another celebrity posing with a wild animal. Tiger cubs belong in the wild, with their mothers – not in captivity for use as entertainment or photo props.”
“While interacting with wild tigers may seem harmless, people posing with wildlife don't realise that a "once in a lifetime" photo for them means a lifetime of misery for the animal. To be used for entertainment, wild tigers are cruelly poached from the wild as babies or bred in captivity.”
One fan wrote: “Tiger babies are super rare and here she is just taking a picture with it as if it were a kitty. The fact that our grandchildren might not be born in time to see a living tiger is a sad fact that she should have more respect for.”
Another defended the controversial pic, writing: “I think she's taking a picture because it's a beautiful creature.”
Khloe was also pictured holding a young orang-utan dressed in a yellow t-shirt.
She wrote alongside the snap: “My new best friend, Dior!!! □ I had the most incredible day!!”
Khloe cut ties with animal charity PETA after it was claimed a protester ‘associated’ with the charity was behind a flour attack on sister Kim, 34.