Lion spotted in back of Bentley riding around Thailand sparks police investigation

Three people have been charged with illegal possession of a wild animal after a video of a lion cub riding in a posh Bentley in Thailand became an internet sensation.

The young cub was seen wearing a collar and resting its paws on the side of the white car as it cruised through Pattaya.

The clip, shared on TikTok on 24 January, has been watched more than 40,000 times.

Police and wildlife officials launched an investigation and found the lion cub at a property along with its registered owner, Sawangjit Kosungneon, and its keeper, Abina Kuruts, according to reports.

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Kosungneon, Kuruts and a 53 year old Sri Lankan man who was driving the car are all facing charges under the Wildlife Protection Act.

If found guilty, they could face up to a year in prison or a fine of over £2,000.

A microchip found in the cub revealed it came from a farm in Nakhon Pathom province.

The ownership was being transferred to Kosungneon, but the paperwork wasn't finished yet.

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The Bangkok Post reported that the farmer who owned the cub is now facing a complaint for having and moving wildlife without permission, according to the director of the DNP.

Thailand's Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act doesn't allow private individuals to own protected wildlife, including big cats, unless they owned the animal before the act started in 1992.

The Bangkok Post also reported that 38 owners have registered possession of 224 lions across Thailand.

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