Residents in the Al Barsha neighbourhood of Dubai might have noticed a stranger roaming their streets on Thursday when a lion went out for a stroll, reported the Associated Press.

‘The Dubai-based Gulf News website reports that authorities captured the lion, which had escaped its owner’s home.’

‘Though it is illegal to keep as pets endangered or threatened wildlife in the United Arab Emirates, there have been numerous sightings of Emirati men in their luxury cars accompanied by pet lions along for the cruise.’

‘The thrill of keeping lions, cheetahs and tigers as pets is popular in some quarters of the Gulf, where it’s seen as a status of wealth and power.’

‘In Kuwait, a man was sued in 2014 after his pet lion escaped and attacked a Filipina maid.’