A disturbing video showing a Libyan man setting his lion on an Egyptian worker has triggered widespread outrage on social media and renewed concerns about the keeping of wild animals in the country.
The footage, which quickly went viral, captures the Egyptian worker in visible distress as the lion claws at his body and bites him. Instead of intervening, the Libyan farmer behind the camera can be heard laughing and telling the worker to remain calm and “enjoy” the repeated attacks.
Human rights activists condemned the video, describing it as “an insult to human dignity” and “a blatant disregard for human life.” While the exact location of the incident has not been verified, campaigners say it highlights the risks posed both to workers and the wider public when wild animals are treated as symbols of power or amusement.
In the aftermath of the backlash, the Libyan farmer defended himself by claiming that the act was a “joke.” His response, however, has only fuelled further anger. Critics argue that regardless of intent, deliberately unleashing a predatory animal on a person cannot be dismissed as humour.
An Egyptian blogger, responding to the video, wrote: “This was neither a joke nor a game. It was a means of humiliation and terror, as if the dignity of this young Egyptian man was worth nothing.” Another user added: “Even if he thought it was a joke, it should never have happened. Trusting a predator with a human life is reckless, dangerous and deeply humiliating. Authorities must act.”
The incident also sheds light on a broader trend in Libya. According to Al Arabiya, the private ownership of lions and tigers has become increasingly common, with sightings of big cats roaming alongside their owners in residential neighbourhoods and even public spaces. Many residents have raised concerns about safety, pointing to previous reports of lions and tigers wandering freely through the streets.
Animal welfare organisations say the trade and possession of exotic animals in Libya is largely unregulated, creating risks not only for the animals themselves but also for those forced to interact with them. “Such displays reduce wild animals to tools of intimidation,” one activist noted. “It places vulnerable workers and ordinary citizens in harm’s way.”
Calls are now growing for Libyan authorities to intervene, both to hold the individual in the video accountable and to introduce tighter regulation of exotic animal ownership. For many, the video is not only about a single shocking act but also a symptom of a wider disregard for both human dignity and animal welfare.
As one social media user put it: “This is not entertainment. It is a reminder of the dangers when human lives are treated as expendable.”
