MESA, Ariz., June 23 (UPI) -- The owner of an Arizona restaurant is defending his decision to serve burgers made with African lion meat in honor of the World Cup.
Cameron Selogie of Il Vinaio in Mesa says the five pounds of lion meat he's using to make the burgers come from a farm and in no way affect the scarcity of lions in Africa, the Arizona Republic reports.
The novelty meat, being served Wednesday and Thursday nights only, has drawn e-mail protests from more than 150 people along with one bomb threat, Selogie says.
The lion meat was ordered from a USDA regulated free-range farm in Illinois that Selogie says he checked out to make sure conditions were humane.
He estimates that only 15 lion burgers will be available each night.
Selogie's restaurant has served other exotic meats.
One of his Wine-Pairing dinners featured wild boar.
