A lion was found roaming the streets of Dubai after escaping from its owner.
The Dubai-based Gulf News website reports that authorities captured the lion, which had absconded from its owner’s home in the Al Barsha neighbourhood.
Though it is illegal to keep as pets endangered or threatened wildlife in the United Arab Emirates, there have been numerous sightings of Emirati men in their luxury cars accompanied by pet lions along for the cruise.
The thrill of keeping lions, cheetahs and tigers as pets is popular in some quarters of the Gulf, where it is seen as a status of wealth and power.
In Kuwait, a man was sued in 2014 after his pet lion escaped and attacked a Filipina maid.
