Officials in Pakistan’s Punjab province have seized 18 lions that were being kept illegally as domestic pets, following a recent incident in Lahore where a lion escaped and injured a woman and two children.
According to wildlife authorities, the woman suffered minor injuries, while the children—aged five and seven—were hospitalized but are expected to recover, as their injuries were not life-threatening.
The lion involved in the attack was being kept without a permit at a private residence. It has since been relocated to a safari park, and the owner was taken into police custody, said Mubeen Elahi, Director General of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department.
The incident has triggered a province-wide crackdown on the unauthorized possession of exotic animals, including large predators such as lions and tigers. The trend of keeping such animals as status symbols has become more common, often glamorized on social media platforms.
Elahi noted that new enforcement measures now strictly prohibit individuals from keeping lions without a valid license, sufficient enclosure space, and adherence to official safety guidelines. Offenders could face prison sentences of up to seven years.
As part of the operation, wildlife officials have inspected 38 private breeding centers for lions and tigers. Eight individuals were arrested for failing to meet legal standards. Authorities plan to complete inspections of all such facilities across the province by the end of the week.
Punjab, the most densely populated province in the country, currently has 584 lions and tigers housed in private homes and breeding centers.
Qaim Ali, a former lion owner, shared his experience: “I used to keep a lion, but after it attacked my nephew, I decided to let it go. Most people keep these animals not for breeding but to flaunt wealth and dominance.”
