'Absolute madness' Thailand's pet lion problem

The Role of 'Absolute madness' Thailand's pet lion problem

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — Behind a car repair business on a nondescript Thai street is the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer two lions and a 200-kilogram lion-tiger hybrid called Big George.

Lion ownership is legal in Thailand, and Tharnuwarht Plengkemratch is an enthusiastic advocate, posting updates on his feline companions to nearly three million followers.

They're playful and affectionate, just like dogs or cats, he told Agence France-Presse from inside their cage complex at his home in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thailand's captive lion population has exploded in recent years, with nearly 500 registered in zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes, and homes.

Experts warn the trend endangers animals and humans, stretches authorities, and likely fuels illicit trade domestically and abroad.

It's absolute madness, said Tom Taylor, chief operating officer of conservation group Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.

The boom is fueled by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post light-hearted content and glamour shots with lions.

He entered Big George's enclosure tentatively though, spending just a few minutes being batted by the tawny striped liger's hefty paws before retreating behind a fence.

Since 2022, Thai law has required owners to register and microchip lions, and inform authorities before moving them.

But there are no breeding caps, few enclosure or welfare requirements, and no controls on liger or tigon hybrids.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.