A woman has gone viral for carrying a lion in her arms on the streets of Kuwait.

According to the Middle East Monitor, the pet lion sparked panic in Kuwait City after escaping from its enclosure and entering a residential area. Local authorities received several reports of the big cat on the loose.

A footage that had gone viral online captured a woman — said to be the lion’s owner carrying it in her arms. The lion was filmed struggling to break free and heard growling as it was carried down the road.

The video had attracted thousands of shocking comments on Twitter. Environmental police said the lion belonged to the woman and her father.

Officers helped in capturing the lion, after which it was returned to its owners.

Owning exotic pets like lions and tigers is illegal in Kuwait, but continues to be a common practice. Exotic pet owners often rely on their connections to ensure they are not penalised – but the trend of keeping lions, cheetahs, tigers and other predators as pets has been facing growing criticism from activists worldwide.  — ndtv.com