Behaviour and welfare of African lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>) cubs used in contact wildlife tourism

Abstract Lion ( Panthera leo ) cubs are used in wildlife interaction tourism but the effects on cub welfare unknown. We assessed behaviour of three cohorts lion cubs, twelve animals total, at different facilities, using continuous and scan-sampling methodologies for entire duration utilisation human interactions. Cubs spent most time inactive (62%), particularly sleeping (38%), also a substantial amount playing (13%) being alert (12%). A generalised linear mixed model revealed that was similar two facilities from third. In these as interactions increased, resting, with other decreased, behaviour, grooming humans flight responses increased. third facility, had an abnormal activity budget, high levels inactivity (80%) accompanied by lack response to conclude some normal cannot be achieved may compromised frequency interactions, which therefore needs controlled limit adverse behaviour.