THE awe of witnessing creatures in their natural habitats—a quiet, humbling connection to the wild—has an unparalleled magic. Yet, this profound experience is being overshadowed by something disturbingly shallow. In a world increasingly driven by ego and spectacle, the need to flaunt power and wealth has taken bizarre turns: exotic animals caged as trophies, obscene displays of money, and an insatiable hunger for online validation. Have we truly traded wonder for vanity? And is this relentless pursuit of superficial acclaim the legacy we wish to leave behind? Social media has transformed into a battleground where people fight not for meaningful connections but for fleeting moments of virality.
The latest example of this comes from YouTuber Rajab Butt, a popular content creator with 1.1 million Instagram followers and 4.25 million YouTube subscribers. Butt was recently arrested following a raid at his home. The charges? Illegal possession of wildlife and public display of weapons. If this news left you shaking your head, you’re not alone. But are we truly surprised? Butt has been courting controversy for a while now. Just a few weeks ago, he faced backlash for his ostentatious wedding, where he flaunted his wealth without a hint of subtlety. And now, his “ownership” of an exotic animal raises another troubling question: Why has it become acceptable—trendy, even—for inexperienced individuals to claim possession of creatures as magnificent as lions and tigers?
Owning exotic animals is not just about putting on a show. These creatures are not props for Instagram posts or YouTube thumbnails. They are living beings with specific needs that most people are woefully unprepared to meet. Beyond the ethical dilemma lies a practical one: Who ensures the well-being of these animals when their “owners” are busy chasing likes and views? But this isn’t just about Rajab Butt. His story is a symptom of a larger problem: the toxic culture of social media stardom. When did we start equating “coolness” with irresponsibility? When did owning a lion or flashing a tiger cub in your videos become a status symbol? The blame, of course, doesn’t lie solely with content creators. We, as viewers, are complicit. Every time we hit that like button or share a viral clip, we reward this behavior. Are we so enamoured by extravagance that we fail to see the harm it causes—to animals, to society, to our own values?
It’s time for a cultural reset. Public figures—especially those with massive followings—should be role models, not provocateurs. Their platforms hold the power to inspire millions, to educate, to lead by example. Instead of normalizing the ownership of exotic animals, why not use that influence to advocate for their protection? We live in an age where visibility is currency and everyone seems desperate to cash in. But what are we sacrificing in the process? Our compassion? Our sense of responsibility? Rajab Butt’s arrest is just another chapter in a growing book of social media absurdities. The question is, how many more stories like this will it take before we realize that the pursuit of fame should never come at the cost of ethics, decency or the welfare of living beings?
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
