Turkish authorities rescued a 35-day-old male African lion cub after a tip-off led them to a veterinary clinic in Istanbul's Tuzla district. The Agricultural and Forestry Ministry said wildlife teams seized the cub, placed it under state protection and fined two people linked to the trafficking. The cub is now being cared for at a designated facility, while officials have not announced a long-term plan. Experts warn the illegal exotic pet trade is growing across the Middle East; many trafficked lions are bred in captivity.
35-Day-Old African Lion Cub Rescued from Smugglers in Istanbul's Tuzla District
Turkish authorities rescued a 35-day-old male African lion cub after a tip-off led them to a veterinary clinic in Istanbul's Tuzla district. The Agricultural and Forestry Ministry said wildlife teams seized the cub, placed it under state protection and fined two people linked to the trafficking. The cub is now being cared for at a designated facility, while officials have not announced a long-term plan. Experts warn the illegal exotic pet trade is growing across the Middle East; many trafficked lions are bred in captivity.
11:18 PM, 11/15/2025Environment
Newborn African lion cub rescued in Istanbul
Turkish authorities have rescued a 35-day-old male African lion cub after a tip-off identified a veterinary clinic in Istanbul's Tuzla district where the animal was being held.
The Agricultural and Forestry Ministry confirmed that wildlife teams seized the cub and placed it under state protection. The ministry announced the operation on X, saying the cub had been trafficked into the city.
Officials issued fines to two people found to be involved in the trafficking. The cub is currently being cared for at a designated facility, though authorities have not disclosed any long-term plans for its placement or rehabilitation.
Animal welfare experts say exotic species are frequently treated as status symbols, fueling an illegal market across the Middle East. Richard Thomas of the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic told BBC News that most lions sold through this trade are bred in captivity.
“People who think lion cubs are very pretty, exotic, cool, and different buy them,” Thomas said. “But they don't take into account the animal welfare and safety considerations that owning a lion entails.”
In March, Israeli authorities reported that lion cubs and monkeys had been smuggled into the country by drone, highlighting how traffickers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to move live animals across borders.