Recognized as a globally vulnerable species, lions continue to decline in numbers in the wild. Reasons include the trade in lion body parts and the export of live lions for the pet and entertainment industries. Thailand has been a significant driver of this trend. Until recently, national legislation afforded protection to native big cats like tigers and leopards but excluded lions and other non-native species.

In 2022, the Thai government amended the Wild Animal Conservation and Reservation and Protection Act to list lions as a “controlled” and “dangerous” species. Under the updated legislation, private individuals are still allowed to keep them. However, they must register their lions with authorities, obtain a license from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and adhere to certain care and housing standards.

Despite these changes, welfare and safety concerns over lion-keeping persist, with media reports of animals escaping and owners taking their animals out in public in contravention of the law. Furthermore, facilities such as exotic animal cafes are permitted to display lions without requiring a zoo license, and lion-tiger hybrids are still excluded from the Act.

The true scale of the issue is unknown. Official data on lion ownership in Thailand is unlikely to be accurate, as it relies on individuals coming forward to register their animals in the first place.

To address this gap, researchers tracked the number of lions kept in all known facilities across the country over a seven-year period between January 2018 and November 2024. These facilities included both licensed and unlicensed zoos, as well as breeding farms and rescue centers. In addition, they monitored public social media accounts on sites such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to collect data on lions in private homes. Finally, they communicated personally with lion traders to gather information about pricing.

Trends In Lion Numbers

A total of 848 lions were recorded over the seven-year study period. The number rose significantly from 132 in 2018 to 444 in 2024 — an increase of 239%. In contrast, Thai authorities only registered 342 lions in 2024.

Overall, breeding was widespread: an average of 101 cubs were born annually, representing 41% of the total number of lions observed each year.

White lions, both adults and cubs, represented around half of all lions throughout the study period. The researchers also documented a further 32 lion-tiger hybrids, including 25 ligers and seven liligers (the offspring of a male lion and female liger).

Trends In Lion Facilities

The total number of facilities with lions also rose significantly. By the end of the study period, private homes represented the majority of facilities, increasing by 1,300% from just two in 2018 to 28 in 2024. Breeding farms were found to house the most lions, keeping an average of 84 animals per year. This was followed by licensed zoos (58 per year) and unlicensed zoos (45 per year).

Trends In Lion Prices

Prices for lions and their hybrids varied over the study period, but generally adults were more expensive than cubs. Color was also a significant factor, as white lions are seen as a rare and endangered species in Thailand. For example, a one-month-old white cub sold for an average of US$13,403, which was roughly double that of a traditional tawny or a mixed-color cub. The lifetime value of a white breeding female was almost US$650,000, simply due to her reproductive potential.

Dead lions also had considerable value. From their conversations with traders, the researchers determined that the bones and meat from a single lion were worth over US$11,000.

The Lion Business Model

Lions move between facilities throughout their lives depending on their age and use. Cubs are often used for interactive experiences with the public such as feeding, petting, photo opportunities, and walks. Once they get too old for these activities, they may be used for breeding. Breeding doesn’t require specific permission from the Thai government, and cubs are often sold before they’re required to be registered at 60 days old — a significant legal loophole.

The researchers discovered that private owners often return their lions to the breeding farm they bought them from once they become unmanageable. This “buy-back” scheme means that farms can earn even more money from these younger lions by renting them out for parties or photo shoots before they reach reproductive age.

The researchers also noted that some lions may be illegally traded to nearby countries such as Cambodia and Laos, where weak legislation is also a concern.

Study Limitations

The transfers of lions between facilities may explain some of the limitations in the data collection. Over 300 lions, representing 41% of the total, were “lost to follow-up,” meaning the researchers were unable to determine what happened to them. Therefore, the number of lions recorded in this study is likely an underestimate of Thailand’s true captive population.

Strengthening Thailand’s Legislation

The findings highlight that the Wild Animal Conservation and Reservation and Protection Act seems to have supported rather than discouraged private ownership of lions in Thailand. The number of lions has increased, as has the number of private homes keeping these animals. White lions and hybrids are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because they’re viewed as rare, and in the case of hybrids, unregulated. This further fuels breeding, increasing their popularity and, ultimately, their monetary value.

Thus, the researchers argue that further legislative reform is needed. They propose that:

• Hybrids should be considered the same as lions and included in the legislation.
• Private ownership and commercial breeding of lions should be banned.
• Permits to keep lions should be restricted to licensed zoos and wildlife rescue centers. These facilities should meet international standards for animal welfare and follow all monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Interactions with lions and other big cats should be banned.

Stricter legislation would have many benefits, from increasing public safety and improving animal welfare to reducing illegal trade between Thailand and its neighbors.