Phnom Penh: He’s become known as the Lion King of BKK 1 and Qi Xiao now has his controversial pet back after the personal intervention of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Not only did the Prime Minister order that the Chinese national’s pet be returned to him, but he also cancelled the $30-thousand fine that had been imposed on Qi for keeping an endangered animal as a pet.

Qi Xiao took to Facebook on Sunday night to express his “deep gratitude”. He also thanked social media users for rallying to his cause and for paving the way for 18-month old Hima to return to BKK’s Street 306. He was seized over a week ago by the authorities and the NGO, Wildlife Alliance, after someone filmed the lion in Qi’s back garden. Hima, apparently in poor condition, was taken to the Phnom Tamao Rescue Centre.

While this weekend’s about-turn has raised some eyebrows, the Prime Minister says this is a “special case” because the owner had raised the lion from a cub and had not smuggled the animal into the country. He has told Qi though that the young lion must now be kept in a proper enclosure.