Antique Carved Wooden Lion Stash Box

This odd box belonged to my aunt and she recently gave it to me for my box collection. She didn't recall much about it so I am hopeful that someone recognizes it. My internet search has been fruitless!

It has been carved from a very dark, hard wood and seems to be a lion as it has a mane. On it's head are out-stretched hands holding the top-most animal, pictured in the second photo. Throughout the mane are other animals. I can't tell what they are but I see that there is also has bee or wasp under it's ear and below the eye which is shown in the first photo. It looks like it may have had fangs at one time.

It also has a 'stash compartment' on its back shown in the third photo . It appears to have been carved from two pieces as there is a perfect seam which looks like it is somehow held together by an odd inset screw – pictured last.

I have never seen anything like this & can't find anything like it online. It is approximately 18 inches from tip to tail. I wondered if anyone else might know anything about it?

Thanks a lot!