'One Shot with a Drugged Lion?' Controversy... Noh Hongchul Explains, "It Was Safe Because It Was Nap Time"

"Tanzania Strictly Regulates Animal Drug Distribution...
Experience Was Supervised and Confirmed by Experts"

Entertainer Noh Hongchul has addressed the controversy over alleged drug injection in relation to photos taken with a lion during his trip to Tanzania, Africa.

Noh Hongchul is posing with a lion taking a nap. Screenshot from Noh Hongchul's Instagram.

On the 27th, Noh Hongchul uploaded a video titled "What is the inside of the African wildlife lodge that even travel-crazy Noh Hongchul saw for the first time? (1.5 million won per night)" to his YouTube channel. In this video, Noh said, "After I posted photos taken with a lion, someone raised suspicions about whether the lion had been injected with drugs," adding, "I was surprised as well, so I checked with the lodge and received the response that it was impossible."

The response from the lodge, which Noh Hongchul disclosed, stated, "Lions are active in the morning and evening and sleep during the day," and added, "If you go to see animals in the wild in the afternoon, you will mostly find them sleeping at that time." It also explained that animal drugs are not sold in Tanzania, and even in cases where animals require surgery, medication must be obtained from the government.

Noh Hongchul is touching the belly of a lion taking a nap. Screenshot from Noh Hongchul's Instagram.

Noh Hongchul explained, "(The inside of the lodge) is extremely spacious and basically the wild, so as you walk around you can see numerous animals such as gazelles, turtles, and giraffes," adding, "Whenever I ask, 'Is it okay to touch that animal?', an expert will either say 'You can touch it' or 'Just observe it.'" He continued, "At the time, the guide said, 'You haven’t met the lion yet. Let’s go see it,'" and added, "The guide told me to try touching the lion, and when I asked, 'Are you sure it's really okay?', the guide said, 'An expert is with us and it’s nap time, so it’s safe.'"

He said, "If drugs had actually been administered, it would have been a very dangerous thing to do," and added, "I think the person who first raised the suspicion did so out of love for animals and Africa."

Previously, on the 30th of last month, Noh Hongchul posted photos and videos on his social media taken at a wildlife experience lodge in Tanzania. The photos showed Noh Hongchul touching the belly of a lion dozing on a tree and petting a lion lying on the grass.

After seeing these photos, an Africa-specialized travel agency claimed, "The reason the lion walks next to you with sleepy eyes, can be touched, and does not resist even if you touch its belly is because drugs were injected into the lion," further alleging, "They administer sedatives and sleeping pills to make the lions lethargic and sleepy." As the controversy grew, on the 15th, Noh Hongchul shared the lodge's information guide, explaining that he decided to visit after reading that the lodge cares for lions abandoned by their mothers as cubs and then releases them into the wild, saying, "I did not imagine there would be any issues of abuse."

The travel agency that initially raised the issue stated, after communicating with Noh Hongchul, "We felt heavy-hearted that Mr. Noh had to endure criticism he should not have received," and announced that they deleted the controversial post.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.