MAN IN FRANCE IN BATTLE TO RETAIN CUSTODY OF 300LB MALE LION PET IN HIS BACK GARDEN

YOUNG LION IN CAPTIVITY

ADULT LION IN THE WILD

The authorities in France Monday, October 2, 2015 had to decide if a man Anthony Crapet, in southern France could continue to have a 300lb (150kg) lion named Ciam as a “pet”. The owner has had the 14 month old lion in his custody for 7 months now and insists he is in no danger and handles the animal better than those which travel with circuses.

MR. CRAPET AND CIAM

Ciam has been with Anthony Crapet, a 36 year old builder, his wife and 2 children at their home in Poussan in the Hérault department of southern France. The matter was only discovered by a neighbor who informed the Police who then came with the plan to confiscate the animal. This was not to be as following a 4 hour standoff had to leave empty handed because of the lion’s size and the threat by Mr Crapet to commit suicide if the Police took the lion with them.

Mr Crapet states that the lion was a gift from a friend who is a circus director is presently kept in a small cage and very harmless in nature even to visitors.

Mr. Crapet says has all the required equipment to take care of Ciam and affirms that he feeds him well on 350lb (160kg) of meat per month.

However, the French law does not permit people like Mr Crapet keep such a beast as a pet. Such animals can only be kept in wild reserves, Zoos, etc. and offenders are liable to imprisonment and the payment of a fine.

Authorities versed in Animal studies, however, warn that the keeping on undomesticated animals by untrained persons is highly dangerous both to man and the animal. There have been incidents of such pets turning around to eat their owners. This is especially so when the animals reach maturity gaining unmanageable weight and having sexual urges which cannot be satisfied thereby leaving them very aggressive.

Mr Crapet, however, reports that his wife is to undertake training as an animal health auxiliary at a nearby zoo in Montpellier while he is completing a bigger enclosure for Ciam.

What do you think? Should the lion be with Mr. Crapet or with the relevant authorities?