Lion cuddles offered with afternoon tea at Chinese restaurant
On the menu at the Wanhui Tower restaurant in Shanxi province, customers could choose between an assortment of different teas and desserts, as well as a 'mascot interaction' package for £124.
The restaurant went viral in China recently as people began posting photos and videos of their interactions with the lions, most of which appear to be cubs. Some posts also said that patrons could play with other animals, including alpacas and deer.
The photos and video prompted online criticism from many in China who began asking whether it was legal for the restaurant to breed lions and then allow for them to interact with people with few protections in place.
In response, the restaurant said: 'We operate like zoos – why can't lions be used commercially?'
According to local media reports, Wanhui Tower had obtained a licence from the Shanxi Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau to purchase and breed protected wild animals, including two African lions, but the licence only allowed for the animals to be displayed.
Authorities at the forestry bureau have launched a probe into the matter, noting that the close contact between people and animals was prohibited and that the matter was being dealt with urgently. This type of language often suggests the threat of prosecution or fines in China.
While cat cafes have become increasingly popular all over the world, big cat cafes like the one in Shanxi are relatively rare – and for good reason, given the safety and welfare concerns for both the people and the animals.
Earlier this year, police in Thailand raided a 'lion cafe' in the southern city of Phuket and arrested two Chinese nationals for working in the country illegally.
At this cafe, patrons could pay between 500 baht (£12) and 1,000 baht (£23) to take photos with lion cubs.
Last month, a hotel near the southern Chinese city of Chongqing was put under investigation after it was discovered to be offering guests a red panda 'wake-up call' service, where the animals were brought into guests' rooms and allowed to climb into their beds.
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