JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Tourists will soon be barred from petting lion cubs at a suburban wildlife park in South Africa, a move that reflects growing concern about the treatment of lions in captivity.

Scott Simpson, spokesman for the 80-hectare (200-acre) Lion Park in Johannesburg, said Thursday that tourist interaction with lions, including petting cubs and walking with the predators, has attracted negative publicity and is "going out of fashion."

Those activities will stop next month, when the Lion Park moves to a larger area with a bigger focus on wildlife-viewing from vehicles with guides.

Opponents of lion petting say it has no conservation value and is detrimental to the cubs, which don't learn how to survive in the wild and lose fear of humans, increasing the risk of an attack.