A restaurant in Taiyuan, China, is offering customers the chance to cuddle lion cubs as part of a four-course afternoon tea, raising alarm over animal welfare. The Wanhui restaurant, which opened in June, features the big cats alongside llamas, turtles, and deer, as seen on its Douyin page.
According to the state-run Shanghai Daily, the establishment sells around 20 tickets daily for its 1,078 yuan (£150) set menu, allowing patrons to 'snuggle' with the animals. Pictures and videos on WeChat and Weibo show customers holding the cubs like babies.
Online comments have been largely critical, with one Weibo user stating, 'This is for the rich to play. Ordinary people even can't afford to drink.' Another urged authorities to intervene, saying, 'The relevant departments should take care of it.'
The incident follows a recent investigation into a hotel in Chongqing for offering a 'wake-up service' starring red pandas. The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel was told by the local forestry bureau to stop the service, which involved bringing a red panda to guests' bedrooms.
