The Tbilisi Zoo has taken in a lion cub belonging to an Olympic judo champion, after a video showing him playing with the animal while driving sparked outrage in Georgia.
The importation of lion cubs by individuals is almost impossible in Georgia. Double gold medalist Lasha Bekauri was heavily criticized after posting the video on social media in December.
The footage showed him caressing the baby lion, curled up in the passenger seat of his Porsche, as he drove through central Tbilisi.
The director of the Tbilisi zoo confirmed to AFP on Friday that he had taken in the animal after the scandal.
The cub was in very poor condition when adopted, suffering from muscle atrophy, digestive problems and other pathologies, according to zoo director Zurab Gurielidze. “He currently lives in my office. He chose to sleep on my desk where he spends the majority of his time,” he said.
“He alternates between the chair, the table, the veterinarian’s office, the sofa or even the secretary’s desk… he wanders freely upstairs, exploring wherever he pleases,” the zoo said in a press release. “This freedom of movement is crucial for his development, because it stimulates his natural curiosity and exploratory behavior.”
-The zoo is looking to adopt a second lion cub of the same age. A return to wild life is considered impossible. The affair caused a stir in Georgia after the scandal. The zoo is calling for donations to finance an enclosure dedicated to the lion cub.
The establishment posted photos showing the little feline being bottle-fed, playing with a dog and standing on its hind legs to look into a refrigerator.
Authorities did not say whether an investigation had been opened into how Lasha Bekauri obtained the lion cub or whether a permit existed.
The judoka, a gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, was a leading backer of the ruling Georgian Dream party during last year’s controversial elections.
