The Soviet Family Who Raised Lions as Pets
There is a well-known story of a Soviet family who reportedly raised lions as pets during the 1970s. The family consisted of Yuri and Natalya Alexandrovich and their two sons, Dmitri and Boris. The Alexandroviches’ fascination with lions began when they acquired a lion cub named Katia from a zoo in 1971.
Over time, their collection grew, and they acquired two more lion cubs, named Gavryusha and Masha. The family kept the lions in their apartment, which led to considerable media attention and curiosity. In 1981, the Soviet authorities decided to relocate the lions to a zoo in Moscow. The Alexandroviches were reportedly devastated by the separation.
