Pakistan Cracks Down on Illegal Pet Lions, Arrests Eight, Confiscates 18 in Punjab

Authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province have launched a widespread crackdown on the illegal keeping of big cats as pets following a lion attack in Lahore where a lion escaped and injured a woman and her two children. The lion's owners, who did not have a license, were arrested and face charges including negligence and violations of the Punjab Wildlife Act, carrying penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines. The lion was captured after leaping over a wall and attacking the family, and has since been relocated to a safari park. The crackdown has led to the confiscation of 18 lions and raids on 38 breeding farms across Punjab, where over 580 big cats are believed to be kept, many without proper licensing or adherence to regulations that require animals to be kept outside city limits. Ownership of big cats like lions is legally allowed in Pakistan if registered and fees are paid, but is often treated as a status symbol and facilitated via social media, contributing to widespread regulatory breaches. Officials emphasize the dangers of unlicensed ownership and urge the public to report illegal wildlife possession to prevent further incidents.