14 DAY TRIAL // The wealthy young men of the Persian Gulf have been known for showing their extravagant lifestyle in odd ways but using big cats like lions, tigers, cheetahs or panthers as “status symbols” is the new trend.
It may seem ridiculous and dangerous for the regular Joe to pose for photos with big felines on a Lamborghini but, for these guys, it is a way of showing their manliness and wealth. Nothing states “I'm incredibly rich and I don't know what to do with my money” more than posting photos on Instagram with your wild cat in a Mercedes or on a motorboat.
The Persian Gulf Edition of The Good Life presents Humaid AlBuQaish as the jungle cats tamer posing besides his expensive cars with his pets. He walks them, feeds them, plays, wrestles and cuddles with the wild felines while publicly showing off on his Instagram account.
His account has almost 270,000 followers and holds a huge collection of photos and videos with his magnificent pets. Some of the animals weigh as much as 400 pounds (181 kg), as his most precious lion which is shown in most of the photos.
Some of the photos posted are mildly disturbing as they show him standing next to the animals covered, or feeding them other small animals like lambs or baby sharks. Seeing Humaid's Instagram success, other incredibly rich men started showing their precious collection of wild beasts as well.
As the trade in big cats has grown in the Middle East, more activists are starting to be concerned about the well-being of the animals. The problem has been worsening in recent years, proof of which is the fact that, in 2010, 200 illegal animals were confiscated only in the United Arab Emirates, according to Daily Mail.
What is most shocking is the amount of trust Humaid has in his pets, putting his head in the lion's mouth or leaning on them as if on a pillow. As one of his many Instagram followers describes this super dangerous hobby, it is “all fun and games till it rips his face off.”