Man gives affectionate bath to lion

A Saudi man was caught on camera affectionately bathing his lion before plunging with it in a swimming pool at his house in the Gulf Kingdom.

A YouTube film published in the Saudi daily Sada showed the lion appeared to be relaxing and enjoying as it lay on its back on the man's lap while he rubbed its belly.

The film later showed the two in the swimming pool and the man demonstrated more affection when the lion dived towards him and they hugged each other.

The paper said the film attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers but did not mention where in Saudi Arabia it was shot.