Increase in the number of captive lions in Thailand suggests ineffective legislation

Following the inclusion of lions (Panthera leo) as a non-native species under Thai domestic wildlife protection legislation enacted in 2022, a noticeable increase in lions kept as pets within the country has sparked public concern and media attention. We sought to investigate lion trends in Thailand (numbers, types of facilities holding lions, colour variants, price and the modus operandi of the lion trade) to understand the efficacy of current legislation. Between 2018 and 2024, we visited zoos open to the public to track the number of lions and hybrids and monitored social media sites to identify lions and hybrids in private homes and lion farms. The number of lions increased from a minimum of 131 recorded in 2018 (in 31 facilities) to 444 in 2024 (in 82 facilities), and the number of lion hybrids increased from one in 2018 to 32 over the study period. Private homes housing lions increased from a minimum of two in 2018 to 28 in 2024. On average, 101 cubs were born annually, and 45% of all cubs born yearly were white. We calculated the value of cub sales alone to be close to US$1,000,000 per year. Additionally, we uncovered a complex trade network comprising farms, zoos, and private individuals with “buy-back” schemes. These findings suggest that the Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act(2019) enabled lion possession and demonstrates the need for improved legislation through stricter control measures, including banning the ownership of lions in private homes, farms and unlicensed zoos, adopting minimum standards for living conditions to reduce breeding and improve welfare, and a ban on using lions and hybrids in animal-visitor interactions. Such measures are crucial for conservation, animal welfare, and human safety.