Latest news with #illegalpets
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
Pakistani authorities confiscating ‘pet' lions after woman and children attacked
Pakistani authorities have initiated a crackdown on the illegal keeping of lions as pets, following an incident in Lahore where an escaped lion injured a woman and two children. The crackdown, ordered by Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, has led to the confiscation of 18 'pet' lions and the arrest of eight people for violating wildlife regulations. Inspections are underway at breeding farms and homes across Punjab province, where over 580 big cats are believed to be kept, with all farms scheduled for inspection by the end of the week. The recent attack involved a lion kept illegally in a Lahore home; the animal was confiscated and relocated, and its owner was arrested. New regulations in Punjab prohibit individuals from keeping lions without a licence, adherence to required cage sizes, and standard operating procedures, with penalties including up to seven years in jail.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
Pakistan launches crackdown on ‘pet' lion ownership after woman mauled in Lahore street
Pakistani authorities have launched a crackdown on the illegal keeping of lions as pets, following an incident in Lahore where a lion escaped and injured a woman and her two children. Punjab province authorities confiscated 18 'pet' lions and eight people have been arrested for violating wildlife regulations, local media reported. The crackdown, ordered by chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, included inspections of breeding farms and homes, where over 580 big cats are believed to be kept. Last week, a lion kept illegally in a Lahore home attacked a woman and two children, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The animal was confiscated and relocated to a safari park, and its owner was later arrested, officials said. CCTV footage showed a lion leaping over a boundary wall, pouncing on a woman, and then attacking two nearby children. Mubeen Elahi, director general of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department was quoted as saying by Dawn: 'According to the new regulations for keeping big cats, no individual is allowed to keep a lion without a licence, without adhering to the required cage size and without following other standard operating procedures.' Mr Elahi said that the punishment was up to seven years in jail. 'As well as confiscating the 18 animals, the department raided 38 lion and tiger breeding farms and arrested eight people for violating the rules,' he said, adding that all farms will be inspected by the end of this week. 'There are 584 lions and tigers in homes and breeding farms in Punjab. ' In Pakistan, owning big cats like lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars is seen as a status symbol and is legal, provided the animals are registered and a one-time fee of 50,000 Pakistani rupees (£129) is paid. Regulations, however, require that such animals be kept outside city limits. In Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, a man alleged that on Wednesday, as the lion mauled his family, the owners stood by without intervening to stop the attack. However, after last week's episode, the Punjab government has acknowledged the urgent need to crack down on unlicensed lion ownership. According to CNN, local media in Lahore reported that the lion's owners lacked the required licence and now face prosecution under the Wildlife Act. 'We've also captured the lion and transferred it to wildlife authorities,' said Muhammad Faisal Kamran, the deputy inspector general of Lahore Police. In January, Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt, who has more than five million subscribers, was ordered to produce animal welfare videos as punishment for illegally keeping a lion cub he received as a wedding gift. He later said that he regretted accepting the cub and acknowledged that 'keeping wild animals in such circumstances is inappropriate'. 'As a social media influencer, I should create positive content. I was not authorised to keep the lion cub, and by doing so, I set a wrong example,' he added at the time.
Times of Oman
08-07-2025
- Times of Oman
Pakistan: Authorities seize 18 lions kept as pets
Pakistani authorities confiscated eighteen lions kept illegally as pets in the densely populated Punjab region during a targeted operation, provincial officials said Monday. Authorities launched a crackdown after a lion escaped from a house in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and attacked a woman and two children. The incident, which took place last week, was captured on video. None of the people suffered life-threatening injuries, according to provincial officials. The lion, which was kept without a license in a house in Lahore, was confiscated. The lion was sent to a local safari park, according to Mubeen Elahi, director general of the provincial Wildlife and Parks Department. Police said the owner was arrested. Keeping big pets considered a status symbol Keeping a lion at home without following the legal requirements for ownership of big cats is an offense punishable by up to seven years in jail, Elahi told the Reuters news agency. As well as confiscating the 18 animals, the department raided 38 lion and tiger breeding farms and arrested eight people for violating the rules, he said. There are more than 500 lions and tigers in homes and breeding farms in Punjab, Elahi said, adding they would be inspected by the end of the week.
