An animal charity in Indiana must stop declawing lions and tigers, and put an end to “Tiger Baby Playtimes,” which allowed the public to interact with big cat cubs.

The order comes from a preliminary injunction in a federal lawsuit by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which alleged that Wildlife In Need, Wildlife in Deed Inc. and its managers, Timothy and Melisa Stark, violated the Endangered Species Act. PETA is asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in New Albany, Indiana, to grant permanent injunctive relief.

The Feb. 12 preliminary injunction said PETA's evidence likely will prove the defendants were harming and harassing big cats. Wildlife in Need had been routinely declawing big cats—to make them easier to handle, not from medical necessity—even after a federal government agency directed the practice to stop. Declawing severs a bone, blood vessels, tendons and ligaments, and can cause permanent pain and lameness.

Wildlife in Need also was charging a $25 fee for “Tiger Baby Playtimes,” when the public could interact directly with cubs. Up to 35 people would spend 30 minutes in a room where the cubs played, and with back-to-back sessions each day, leaving only a one-hour break for the cubs. The practice stresses the cubs and adversely affects their behavior.

U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young noted in the preliminary injunction that the defendants were sanctioned for being unresponsive to discovery requests and court orders. The court decided the matter based largely on the plaintiff's evidence.

The court enjoined the defendants from declawing any big cats, using cubs under 18 months old in public encounters, including Tiger Baby Playtimes, or separating cubs from their mothers prematurely, during the pendency of the case. The defendants can ask for a court order if there's a medical necessity for declawing, or separating cubs from mothers.

“The court has done the right thing in stopping Wildlife in Need from tearing cubs away from their mothers for use as public playthings and amputating their toes, which can leave them with lifelong lameness, pain and psychological distress,” said Brittany Peet, PETA Foundation director of captive animal law enforcement, in a statement.

Richard Rush of Rush Law Office in New Albany, who represents the defendants, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Angela Morris is a freelancer reporter. Follow her on Twitter @AMorrisReports.