there is a zoo in the US (Los Angeles IIRC) that, 20 years ago, used to hand raise some kittens of certain big cats. They did it so they could take them on TV and the public could get close to them, but not too close. Their reasoning was that the more people who could actually see the animals close to, the more they could be got to care about issues like deforestation, poaching and so on. I can see the point of doing it if it doesn't stress the animals and doesn't involve other animal cruelty.