Restaurant in China offers lion cub cuddles and sparks animal welfare concerns
- The Wanhui restaurant in Taiyuan city offers patrons the chance to snuggle with lion cubs and other animals.
- The dining experience is marketed as a four-course afternoon tea for a fee of 1,078 yuan ($150).
- This controversial practice has raised serious concerns about animal welfare and legality, leading to public outcry.
A restaurant named Wanhui, located in Taiyuan city, Shanxi province, China, has gained significant attention online due to its unconventional dining experience. Opened in June, the establishment offers a four-course afternoon tea that includes the opportunity for customers to cuddle with lion cubs and interact with other animals such as llamas, turtles, and deer. The price for this unique experience is around 1,078 yuan, approximately $150, and the restaurant reportedly sells around 20 tickets daily. The popularity of this service has raised serious concerns regarding the legality of using wild animals for entertainment and the welfare of the animals involved. The presence of lion cubs in a commercial setting has ignited debate on animal rights and the ethical treatment of wildlife. Critics argue that such experiences are dangerous for both patrons and animals, and many online comments from users on platforms like Weibo express outrage, labeling the service as exploitative and catering to the wealthy. Users have called for the relevant authorities to intervene, emphasizing the need for greater regulation on the treatment of animals in commercial ventures. This controversy follows a similar incident earlier in June when officials investigated a hotel in Chongqing for a service that allowed guests to interact with red pandas. This hotel attracted numerous visitors specifically for its red panda