In a bid to attract customers, a Turkey restaurant has devised an unusual plan — to put a lion cub behind a glass corridor! Yes, a posh cafe called Mevzoo in Istanbul has wildcat displayed behind the glass wall, as customers enjoy a meal. The eatery shared a few videos of the cub called Khaleesi on Instagram, causing a huge debate and uproar online.
Not just the lion, the cafe which claims to be a ‘rehabilitation centre’ for wild animals also has two crocodiles, 35 rabbits, several flamingos, four snakes, four horses, two parrots, and an iguana, according to The Independent.
One video of the lion pacing in anger, as a toddler keeps running outside went viral across social media platform and stirred outrage online. According to reports, thousands have signed a petition to ban the place.
However, when the Turkish Ministry of Forest and Water Management investigated the place after getting complaints, they couldn’t let the animals free as the owner operates a zoo below the cafe. “Mevzoo keeps most of its animals in cages underneath the cafe, in a ‘zoo’ that is registered with the Ministry of Forestry,” the report added.
As the owner has the “necessary paperwork”, the animals were allowed to stay there but the authorities have asked them to take the glass wall down in three months time.
