Tourists who take selfies with wild animals have come under fire from social media bosses.
Instagram says the practice could be traumatic for the animals.
The photo-sharing platform is now sending automatic messages to its users warning them they may be being cruel when they post animals selfies.
Instagram wants its users to stop using hashtags such as #slothselfie, #koalaselfie, #monkeyselfie or similar, and says that the animal rights message will be introduced to educate exotic selfie lovers about the online animal abuse.
Despite some animals being comfortable with humans, the Instagram alert will apply across the board.
The message will read: “Animal abuse and the sale of endangered animals or their parts is not allowed on Instagram. You are searching for a hashtag that may be associated with posts that encourage harmful behaviour to animals or the environment.”
Instagram bosses made a decision to introduce the pop-up message soon after National Geographic workers found animals being illegally captured from the Amazon rainforest, kept in cages, and hauled out for well-meaning tourists to hold and take selfies with.
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