Angela Onwuzoo
President of the Zoological Society of Nigeria, Prof. Alexander Odaibo, has warned that keeping lions as pets at home is dangerous, stating that apart from the risk of killing their owners, they can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans.
The professor of Zoology at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, noted that Anthrax can be transmitted from lion to man, in addition to several other diseases.
Recently, a nine-year-old male lion killed a zookeeper while he was feeding the wild cats in their den at the Zoological Garden of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The victim, identified as Mr Olabode Olawuyi, a Veterinary Technologist, was said to have been in charge of the Zoological garden for over a decade.
The parasitologist with over 30 years of professional experience, who spoke during an interview with our correspondent, said wild animals such as lions should not be domesticated but kept in the zoological garden.
The researcher said, “Keeping lions as pets at home is a very dangerous thing to do. I wouldn’t know why anybody would keep lions as pets. Apart from the danger of being attacked by the lion, they could also transmit zoonotic diseases.
“Such animals can transmit anthrax and several other diseases. Anthrax can be transmitted from lion to man, in addition to several other diseases. As a result, it is not good to keep such wild animals in your home.
“The right place for such wild animals to be is the zoological garden, where facilities are made available to keep them and where experts are available. Such experts can easily reach out to manage the wild animals when situations arise.
“However, there are people who, out of the abundance of what they have, can easily afford to keep lions. But that is a very dangerous act. It is not advisable to keep wild animals in your home. Apart from posing risks to you and members of your family, your neighbours can also be at risk of attacks.”
Researchers in a 2022 study by World Animal Protection, a charity organisation in the United Kingdom, identified 63 pathogens (including bacteria, parasites, and viruses) affecting lions; some of which they indicated could be passed from lions to other animals, and some to humans.
The researchers who reviewed almost 150 scientific studies investigating diseases in African lions also listed 83 diseases and clinical symptoms associated with these pathogens, highlighting the potential harm they can cause to both animals and people.
Commenting on the possible transmission of poison or injection of venom as some other animals do, Odaibo clarified that lions do not transmit poison or venom when they attack man.
“When a lion attacks, it is either to kill or to feed on. Lions may also attack for their self-defense, especially if the lion thinks you are coming to attack it. Other than that, the lion attacks to kill and eat. When lions attack, they always go for the neck of their prey.
“During an attack, lions go for the neck of their prey to suffocate and puncture the blood vessels located in the neck, which will lead to the death of its prey.
“As such, lions usually go for the neck of their prey first during an attack. They are experts in doing such”, he said.
In August 2022, a South African conservationist was killed by the lions he hand-reared, according to the family.
West Mathewson, 69, was walking with two white lionesses when one of the animals attacked and killed him without warning.
The incident took place on the premises of the family-owned Lion Tree Top Lodge, in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
