Defanged, Declawed Lion Seized From Chinese National In Cambodia After Tiktok Video

Cute pet videos contribute to a large portion of the content on the Chinese video-sharing social media platform TikTok. However, the videos of their pet shared by a Chinese national on the app landed them in trouble with the Cambodian authorities.

The pet owner shared multiple videos of their pet lion on TikTok. In the videos, the young male lion can be seen lounging around while the family’s dogs roam around it. Another video showed the same lion as a cub getting sprayed with a hose. More videos showed the lion roaming around its owner’s property.

These videos alerted Cambodian authorities into launching an investigation. The investigation that was launched in April came to a conclusion when the lion was finally tracked down and confiscated. Working with the Cambodian authorities, an animal rescue organization Wildlife Alliance, shared updates of the operation on its social media pages.

The owner was identified as a Chinese national living on a large property in the Boeung Keng Kang district of the country’s capital Phnom Penh, the Guardian reported. Raiding the home, the authorities and members of Wildlife Alliance found the young lion. The lion was tranquilized before being removed from the property, Reuters reported.

It is believed that the lion was illegally smuggled into Cambodia where keeping wildlife as companion animals is not permitted. Cambodia has become a hub of illegal wildlife trafficking in South East Asia, Vice reported. Cambodian environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said that the authorities are attempting to crack down on trafficking and are committed to stopping the illegal trade.

Wildlife Alliance revealed that the lion had been bought by its owner as a cub. The one-and-a-half-year-old lion weighed around 154 pounds. Its owner had the animal’s claws and canines removed in an effort to make it less dangerous. However, removing the wild animal’s claws and teeth make it hard for the animal to eat. Wildlife Alliance also stated that the living conditions of the lion were inadequate.

After being removed from the home, the lion was handed over to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Conservation and Rescue Center where it will be rehabilitated. It is unclear if the owner of the animal will face charges for illegally possessing a wild animal.