Lion meat burgers draw protests

PHOENIX – An Arizona restaurant owner dreamed up a meal to give customers a South African experience during the World Cup. But serving burgers made with African lion meat has generated protests.

Cameron Selogie said his Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa has received a bomb threat and more than 150 e-mails from protesters. He said African lions are on the protected list, not endangered.

The restaurant ordered 10 pounds of lion meat from a USDA-regulated farm in Illinois, which Selogie said he researched to make sure they were humane. The restaurant said it’s serving about 15 burgers a day.

USDA spokesman Jim Brownlee said lion meat is an uncommon dish, but he knew of no prohibitions against it.