“From Big Life Foundation: Lions have more in common with the domestic house cat sitting on your sofa than you might suspect. One unexpected example: hairballs.
That’s right. Lions groom themselves as all cats do, and the result, although uncommon, is the occasional hairball. But while you might be grossed out when your cat does it, in parts of Africa, these matted balls are highly prized. They’re supposedly sought after for various uses in traditional medicine and witchcraft and can sell for upwards of $1500 USD on the black market.
Because lions are a protected species, possession of any wildlife part, including hairballs, is illegal.”
Big Life Foundation