Stricken baby lion saved by authorities after being found in garage

A baby lion cub weighing just a few kilos has been saved from a garage in France.

Marseille's customs brigade found the small lioness inside a cage.

Experts said she is one to two months old and has not been weened.

The agency said a man was placed in detention over the discovery.

He claimed he acquired the cub from some people in "a building" in the southern French city, who said they did not know how to look after a wild cat and gave the animal up.

The customs agency says the feline was immediately handed over to France's animal protection group for specialised care.

In January 2007, two lion cubs were discovered by Montpellier customs before being given to the Marseille Zoo.

Reporting by Associated Press.