Toronto Animal Services has reportedly been called in to investigate a Toronto nightclub after photos of patrons holding a lion cub surfaced on Instagram, according to an animal advocacy group.

The images show patrons of Lavelle, a King St. W. club with a rooftop patio, carrying the cub.

This violates Toronto bylaws that prohibit possessing lions and other exotic animals, according to Animal Justice, an animal advocacy group who made animal services aware of the issue on Friday.

“It’s illegal in Toronto to parade exotic animals around nightclubs for marketing purposes,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, in a statement on the group’s website.

“Baby animals aren’t toys. This lion cub should be with her mother, not used as a prop for selfies,” she said, adding that Toronto Animal Services — which did not respond to requests for comment — was now on the case.

The lion cub was not associated with the nightclub and was not a part of an organized event, said Danny Roth, spokesperson for Lavelle.

“A patron brought in the lion cub to the nightclub,” said Roth.

“As soon as security became aware of it, and were told it was not authorized, the patron was asked to leave.”