I knew they were widespread in the South Pacific, but not in Southeast Asia. From the BBC's "Lion Mutilates 42 Midgets in Cambodian Ring-Fight" (newturfers . com/mwf/attach/38/355838/BBCNEWSWorldLionMutilates42MidgetsinCambodianRing-Fight.htm):

...An African Lion (Panthera Leo bbc . co . uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/14.shtml) was shipped to centrally located Kampong Chhnang especially for the event, which took place last Saturday, April 30, 2005 in the city’s coliseum.

The Cambodian Government allowed the fight to take place, under the condition that they receive a 50% commission on each ticket sold, and that no cameras would be allowed in the arena.

The fight was called in only 12 minutes, after which 28 fighters were declared dead, while the other 14 suffered severe injuries including broken bones and lost limbs, rendering them unable to fight back.

Shocking, truly shocking (snopes . com/humor/iftrue/lionmidget.asp).