Pattaya residents alarmed as pet lions in a home roar through the night

PATTAYA: Concerns over the late-night roaring of pet lions prompted an inspection at a home of a Sri Lankan businessman in Thailand.

Officers visited the property in Soi Phra Tamnak, Pattaya, on Monday (Feb 10) to check if the animals had been microchipped and to assess their living conditions.

The inspection, conducted around 3.30pm local time, was led by Sadudee Punpugdee, director of the Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division, along with officials from the Protected Area regional office, the tourist police, the Chonburi immigration police, the Pattaya police, and other relevant agencies.

The owner, Divarun Vaikunda Nadar, 54, a Sri Lankan national, cooperated with officials.

Sadudee confirmed that the lions’ microchips matched their registration details. He also said that Nadar has been informed of the residents’ concerns and has agreed to relocate the lions to a new property within a week.

Before the move, officials will inspect the new location to ensure it meets safety standards and is sufficiently distant from residential areas. If deemed unsuitable, the lions will be transferred to the Protected Area regional office for safekeeping, where Nadar will be permitted to visit them.

Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation Bureau is currently working to tighten regulations on lion ownership, ensuring that these animals are housed in appropriate environments. The import of lions for breeding has been halted to curb further trade.