LAHORE: Police in Lahore arrested the owners of a pet lion on Friday after the animal attacked and injured three people in the city’s Shah Di Khui area the previous evening.
The three victims – a woman and two children – were attacked when the lion, taken out for a walk by its owners Malik Azam Shani, Malik Ghulam Murtaza, and Behram, went on a rampage. The injured individuals were rushed to Jinnah Hospital, where they received medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
The police filed a first information report (FIR) against the owners, accusing them of failing to control the lion and invoking sections of the Wildlife Act, including attempted murder charges. The lion had been kept as a pet in a residential area without the necessary permits or safety measures in place.
DIG Operations Faisal Kamran took immediate notice of the incident, calling upon a team from the wildlife department to assist in capturing the lion. The animal was subsequently secured and relocated to a wildlife facility.
The incident highlights the growing concern over the ownership of dangerous wild animals in residential areas. According to Punjab Wildlife Department officials, the owners had not obtained the required license to keep an African lion, violating safety regulations and endangering public safety.
Lahore’s Deputy Chief Wildlife Officer, Adnan Work, stressed the risks posed by the illegal possession of such animals. “Keeping wild animals in residential areas poses serious risks, and strict action will be taken against those responsible for such negligence,” he said.
The Wildlife Department has filed charges under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act. This includes a non-bailable offence for unauthorized possession of dangerous wild animals, with penalties of up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million.
In the wake of the incident, Punjab’s Senior Minister for Information and Environment, Maryam Aurangzeb, condemned the act and announced a province-wide crackdown on the illegal private ownership of exotic animals. “We cannot allow anyone to jeopardize 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 stated.
Authorities have also urged the public to report any illegal ownership of exotic wildlife, such as lions and tigers, by calling the Wildlife Helpline at 1107. The ongoing crackdown aims to prevent similar incidents and protect both human safety and animal welfare.
