Latest news with #ConservationandManagement)Act
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Unlicensed lion owner arrested
Punjab Wildlife Department officials, with the assistance of local police, have arrested a man for keeping an African lion without a licence in the Shah Di Khoi area of Lahore. The lion has been relocated to a secure facility and legal proceedings have been initiated against the suspect. The arrest follows an overnight incident, when the lion had escaped from a private enclosure and entered a residential neighbourhood, injuring three residents and causing panic, according to officials. Lahore Region Deputy Chief Wildlife Officer Adnan Virk confirmed that the suspect had neither obtained a departmental permit nor complied with essential safety protocols. "Keeping wild animals in residential areas poses serious risks, and strict action will be taken against such individuals," he said. The department has filed a case under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act. Unauthorised possession of dangerous wild animals without safety measures is a non-bailable offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to Rs5 million. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb ordered a province-wide crackdown against those keeping wild animals unlawfully.
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Owner arrested by wildlife authorities as illegal pet lion escapes in Lahore
Listen to article A man was arrested in Lahore for keeping an African lion illegally without a licence after the big cat escaped and ventured into a residential neighbourhood, said wildlife officials on Friday. The Punjab Wildlife Department, with assistance from local police, carried out the arrest in the Shah Di Khoi area. The lion has since been safely relocated to a secure wildlife facility. The escape, which occurred a day earlier, caused widespread panic and led to injuries to at least three residents, according to authorities. All victims received medical assistance and are in stable condition. Lahore Deputy Chief Wildlife Officer Adnan Work confirmed that the individual had not obtained the required permit and had failed to meet safety regulations. 'Keeping wild animals in residential areas poses serious risks and strict action will be taken against such individuals,' he said. The Wildlife Department has filed a case under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act. Officials said unauthorised possession of dangerous wild animals is a non-bailable offence, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million. Senior Minister for Information and Environment Maryam Aurangzeb condemned the incident and announced a province-wide crackdown on illegal private ownership of exotic animals. 'We cannot allow anyone to jeopardise human lives. Enforcement of wildlife laws is a core part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's environmental protection agenda, and no leniency will be shown,' she said in a statement. Authorities have urged the public to report illegal possession of lions, tigers, or other exotic wildlife by calling the Wildlife Helpline at 1107.
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC takes up case against circus cruelty
The Lahore High Court has issued notices to the Punjab Wildlife Department and other authorities concerned over the alleged inhumane treatment of wild animals in private zoos and traveling circuses across Punjab. The action follows a public interest petition filed by Environmental & Animal Rights Consultants (EARC), a legal and research organisation focused on animal and environmental protection. The petition, led by EARC Director and senior lawyer Advocate Altmash Saeed, highlights the cruel captivity of wild animals such as lions, leopards, and bears in cramped iron cages, often placed in recreational parks and roadside circuses. "These sentient creatures are held in degrading conditions, deprived of their natural behaviour and suffering in sweltering heat," the petition stated, adding that the practice violates both ethical standards and the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act. Taking initial cognisance, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh directed provincial authorities to conduct inspections of the identified facilities and submit comprehensive reports. He emphasised that wild animals are not objects of entertainment but living beings entitled to humane treatment. The petition demands a constitutional ban on the private captivity of wild animals and the relocation of all such animals to certified sanctuaries, where they can receive proper care and begin psychological recovery from prolonged mistreatment. Advocate Saeed termed the court's action a watershed moment for animal rights in Pakistan. "This is about enforcing the law and giving voiceless beings the dignity they deserve," he said.
