“Another Day Surviving a Big Cat”: Young Man Walks Lion Cub on a Leash Down SA Street
- TikToker @urayandbobby shared a clip on 1 October 2026 of himself walking a lion cub on a leash through a local South African street
- Passersby who spotted the cub quickly moved away in fear, with one cyclist nearly falling off his bike trying to escape
- South Africans online found the video hilarious but raised serious questions about the safety and legality of keeping a big cat as a pet
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Source: TikTok
A young South African man turned an ordinary street into a scene of chaos after he was filmed strolling with a lion cub on a leash.
TikToker @urayandbobby posted the clip on 1 October 2026, captioning it
"Another Day Surviving A Big Cat."
The video gathered 15.8K likes within days. He is known on his page for sharing lion-related content regularly.
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In the footage, he walks confidently through what appears to be a local SA street with the cub trotting alongside him. The reactions from those nearby tell the real story. People who crossed his path froze the moment they clocked the animal, scrambling to put as much distance between themselves and the cub as possible. One man on a bicycle nearly came off his bike in a panic, trying to pedal away fast enough.
One viewer, Owame Phirisi, confirmed the encounter was genuine, writing that he had personally spotted the young man in Roodepan and noted that he travels with a bakkie to transport the animal.
Lion cubs as pets: What the law says
While the video drew laughs, it also raised real concerns. Experts warn that big cats such as lions, tigers, and leopards are never truly domesticated, no matter how young they are raised. They retain powerful predatory instincts and can seriously injure or kill their owners. Private ownership is increasingly restricted globally, though regulations in South Africa vary.
Beyond safety risks to people, animal welfare experts point out that these animals need large, specialised enclosures and high volumes of fresh meat that private owners rarely can provide.
Watch the moment pedestrians scatter on the street:
Mzansi reacts to the lion cub clip
South Africans in the comments section on the TikTok page could not hold back:
@Jojo:
"It's all fun till you get arrested."
@Hlonza_J:
"I hope you will take it to the zoo once it has grown coz' this is very dangerous 😭😭"
@MissSisanda_:
"Is this allowed?"
@Ted_Jobe:
"Better not come across a stray dog."
@patrick!!!:
"Bro's walking Simba 😂"
@kd:
"It's already a trend, I just saw a leopard and now a lion." [translated from Setswana]
More on wildlife and animals in SA
- Briefly News recently reported on a rhino that charged a tourist vehicle in Etosha and the joke viewers made about the driver's escape.
- A swarm of bees attacked people in Middelburg, and a ranger has shared what to do if it happens to you.
- An Ankole cow sold for a staggering amount at a livestock auction, and South Africans are debating why.
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Source: Briefly News
