A Mesa restaurant owner dreamed up a novelty meal to give customers a South African experience during the World Cup. But serving burgers made with African lion meat has brought plenty of protests.
Cameron Selogie says his Il Vinaio restaurant has received more than 150 e-mails from protesters as well as a bomb threat. He says African lions are on the protected list, but not endangered.
The restaurant ordered 10 pounds of the African lion meat from a USDA regulated free-range farm in Illinois, which Selogie says he researched to make sure they were humane.
USDA spokesman Jim Brownlee says lion meat is an uncommon dish, but he knew of no prohibitions against it.
Slabside posted at 8:30 pm on Tue, Jun 22, 2010.
They're GGGGGRRREEEEAAAAATTT!
Bobber46 posted at 9:10 pm on Tue, Jun 22, 2010.
Slabside,,,, Very funny comment !!![beam]
Tigerman Tom posted at 6:21 pm on Wed, Jun 23, 2010.
My hat off to Cameron Selogie for resisting the animal humaniacs and PETA type losers by serving a very good burger made of lion. I had jerky made from lion a few years back at an exotic animal auction and it was very good. People need to look at this for the reality it is, and stop judging the rights or desires of others who have different thoughts and desires. I have been in the exotic cat business for over 36 years. My cougars were the ones who traveled all over the US and Canada for Lincoln-Mercury dealers. I have presented educational programs to millions of children about tigers, lions, and other big cats, along with teaching why we need them in the wild. I trained Dolphins before that in Florida. Close to a million children have had a picture taken with at least one of my exotic cats. I loveed every cat I had. But that does not mean I am against eating any animal that is raised in captivity for human consumption. There is a difference between hunting, killing, and eating or just making a trophy of an animal in the wild, vs eating an animal raised in captivity for the purpose of human food. Cattle ranchers, pig farmers, chicken farmers, they all raise these animals for human food. There are people who have these animals also as pets. The animals we eat from these sources would not even have been born if they were not raised for food. Same situation here, the lions raised in Illinois are raised for consumption. If they were not raised for such, they would not be raised at all, or possibly for zoo purposes. Dining on these lions does not reduce or effect the wild population in any way, they were raised in captivity. Lions are not endangered, as is the tiger. However, again, what would be the problem if we were to dine on a tiger, as many old time Asians do, that was raised in captivity for the sole purpose of human consumption, a tiger farm? Just like the cattle farmer, or the pig farmer, or the chicken farmer? Same thing, all of Gods creatures, all available to eat. We just put higher or lower values on these animals based on cuteness, how we fell in love with them in a zoo, cartoon or movie. Who are we to play God and say which animals we can eat for food, and which animals are to cute to eat? To us, fluffy our cat is cute and cuddly, and has same rights of our house as any human. To another country, fluffy is a source in which to feed children who are trying to live, to survive, and fluffy is a wonderful meal. Who are you to judge? I hope Cameron Selogie decides to keep this on the menu for good. Those who do not like it, could eat elsewhere and plan a different non-reality animal activist attack. Animal activism is proper and needed, but activism in a reality way, not the unreal, irrational way, the PETA way! Just a thought, don't you think the commercial raising of these animals for human consumption would also put a stop to poaching the real live wild ones in the wild that are taken for their skins, etc? There would be no black market for these illegal poachers to sell their illegal booty to if there were more economical, legal sources for these animals by-products! Go Cameron Selogie! I'll be glad to dine with you anytime!