Justin Bieber warned by Canadian authorities after posing with lion cubs at Toronto concert

Animal rights group Peta hopes warning will remind people that lions and tigers are not 'selfie props'

Justin Bieber (Getty)

Justin Bieber has received an official warning from the Animal Services department in Toronto for posing with big cats on his visit to the city earlier this year.

In May, the “Sorry” singer was pictured on social media backstage at his concert in the Canadian city playing with a lion cub. The photos were posted just a couple of weeks after he was also condemned by the animal rights organisation Peta for posing with a captive tiger at a party to reportedly celebrate his father Jeremy’s engagement.

Peta criticised the party for using animals as “entertainment” and in a blog post urged the 22-year-old “never to use animals as selfie propose or party entertainment again”.

Now, the Toronto Animal Services (TAS) team have issued a formal warning to Bieber not to “exhibit” big cats again.

In a letter addressed to Bieber and obtained by Peta the services say they received a complaint over Bieber “exhibiting” a wild lion cub and juvenile lion in Toronto.

In a statement released to the Independent, TAS said: “Toronto Animal Services received two complaints about Mr Justin Bieber having exhibited a white lion cub and juvenile lion while in the City of Toronto earlier this year. This activity is prohibited in the City of Toronto. Our staff issued a notice of violation to Mr Bieber as a result of these incidents.”

In response to the notice of violation, Peta's Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, Brittany Peet said: “Peta hopes the authorities’ warning to Justin Bieber will remind people everywhere that lions and tigers are sensitive living animals, not selfie props.”

A representative for Bieber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.