Claims of animal cruelty and risking public safety were raised after a viral video showed a man in a luxurious Bentley convertible driving about in Pattaya, Thailand, with a four month old lion cub wearing a collar in the back seat. The video was uploaded on X on January 23 by a user going by the name Bangkok Boy. This prompted authorities to open an investigation against the lion cub’s owner, according to the South China Morning Post.
“Viral video of the day: A person – probably from Bangladesh – chauffeurs a four-month-old lion through the middle of Pattaya in a rented Bentley convertible. How sick is this? Keeping a lion as a pet is cruel,” reads the post’s caption that user X shared.
watch the video here:
Viral video of the day:
A person – probably from Bangladesh – chauffeurs a four-month-old lion through the middle of Pattaya in a rented Bentley convertible.
How sick is this?
Keeping a lion as a pet is cruel!Vid. cr.: Pierre-Alexandre / T-Tok
8 December 2023#Pattaya https://t.co/ctPbOI9CDD pic.twitter.com/8bzsA0hOiF— ฿คຖgk๐k-฿๐y – หนุ่มบางกอก (@Bangkokboy17) January 23, 2024
Annoyed netizens shared their comments. While some called it animal cruelty, others demanded that the driver must face harsh consequences. Others drew attention to the clear dangers to both the unfortunate animal and people on the road.
Taking to the comment section, individuals expressed their opinions, “Strict actions should be taken against such people. This is clearly animal cruelty.” Another asked, “Why the hell can an individual own a lion?”
“For anyone who has doubts whether it is illegal or not? You can adopt a lion. Can you take it out and drive like you see in the clip? Can I request permission? And what offences will there be,” a furious user asked.
