A Kurdish man who smashed a birthday cake into a captive lion's face has apologised after a video of the cruel incident sparked fury online.
In the video, which has been widely shared on Twitter, a group of men are seen kneeling down next to the lion.
The group, who are speaking Kurdish, appear to be posing for a photograph with a birthday cake for the camera.
But one of the men then aggressively smashes the cake into the lion's face, before rubbing it in as the others around him laugh.
Blend Brifkani (left) said he was holding a birthday party for
The Lion King full movie online lion when he smashed the cake into its face
The video sparked fury online with comedian Ricky Gervais writing: 'Dirty, worthless filth'The big cat then jumps and tries to get away from the group, while shaking its head and pawing at its face to try to get the cake off it.
The main perpetrator and owner of the lion, Blend Brifkani, is the head of the Kurdish American Cooperation Organisation - a local NGO.
Twitter users describe him as a wealthy singer-turned-activist and his Instagram page features dozens of photos of himself posing with his pet lion.
RELATED ARTICLESPrevious
1
Next
Hungry horse! Shetland pony invades family's tent on camping... Tiger rips off a man's right arm and his left hand at...
Share this article
Share One gruesome video even shows the lion having its claws removed.
Yesterday Brifkani addressed the video of the cake in the caption of another Instagram post in which he said he never intentionally intended to abuse the lion, which he describes as his 'very best friend'.
'The footage shows pure emotions of overwhelmingness (sic) and excitement that I had while celebrating his birthday,' he wrote.
The lion shakes its head to try and get the cake off its face while the group of men laugh 'When I found him in the wilderness, he was alone, small and weak without a mother. If he had gotten into the wrong hands, he wouldn't have made it alive. I provided him a safe home, a good environment, veterinary care and everything needed to sustain the lion's health until he grew.
'My plan was never to keep him in captivity, but rather raise him until he was well enough and old enough to be let out into the wild again.
'I admit, it was wrong for throwing a cake on the lions face (sic), I have let my emotions of excitement take over me and I apologize to those whom I have offended.
Blend Brifkani, who owns the lion, is the head of the Kurdish American Cooperation Organisation - a local NGO which says it helps re-release animals into the wild
'I'm not an animal abuser, I'm constantly working on projects that show how important animals are to me, especially Leo and how much I care for his well-being. I assure you that Leo is safe and will soon return to the wild.'
The video, which was reportedly filmed in Erbil - the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan - by Rich kids of Erbil, has been viewed more than 860,000 times on Twitter and triggered thousands of furious comments.
Comedian Ricky Gervais commented: 'Dirty, worthless filth.' Another Twitter user, Adam Yeend, wrote: 'The absolute disgusting ignorance, and cruelty of man to take advantage of another being's innocence and vulnerability is the ultimate sign of weakness.'
Advertisement
https://thelion-kingfull.com/lionking2019/