Thailand's pet lion problem

BEHIND a car repair business on a nondescript Thai street are the cherished pets of a rising TikTok animal influencer: two lions and a 200kg lion-tiger hybrid called “Big George.”

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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 said 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.

“It's terrifying to imagine, if the laws aren't changed, what the situation is going to be in 10 years.”

The boom is fuelled by social media, where owners like Tharnuwarht post lighthearted content and glamour shots with lions.

“I wanted to show people... that lions can actually bond well with humans,” he said, insisting he plays regularly with his pets.

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.