Not just ‘lion’ around: The cub seen looking out in a white, open-top Bentley in the streets of Pattaya in this screencap from Facebook.
Seated in the back of a white, open-top Bentley, a lion cub was spotted going on a joyride in the streets of Pattaya, Thailand, this month.
In a video making the rounds on social media on Jan 21, the calm cub – wearing a fluorescent yellow collar – was seen cruising down the streets of the popular tourist destination while onlookers gazed, bewildered.
The video has chalked up 35,900 likes.
While netizens expressed their amusement over the video, some questioned whether owning such an exotic animal is legal in Thailand.
The Bangkok Post reported that ownership of exotic animals like lions is legal in Thailand.
The officials will determine if the driver is the owner of the lion cub in question and whether he has the proper permits.
In the Chonburi province where Pattaya is located, there are currently only four individuals and one zoo who have legally declared their ownership of 15 lions, The Pattaya News said.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, the director-general of the Department of National Parks, said officials were trying to identify the owner of the lion cub to check their ownership documentation.
The driver may also be breaking the law by bringing a predatory animal out of an authorised area and driving it around without official permission.
He also brings the animal to Dongtan beach, local media said. — The Straits Times/ANN
