In Lahore, Pakistan, a disturbing incident occurred when a pet lion attacked a woman and her two young children in an alleyway. The predator, which had been kept as a pet by its owners, scaled a concrete wall and attacked the family, causing injuries to the victims.
Following the attack, authorities arrested the lion’s owners for negligence and for keeping a wild animal without a license. This case has sparked outrage and brought attention to the growing issue of illegal wildlife being kept as pets in urban areas.
The Attack and Aftermath
On July 6, 2023, Lahore Police reported that a lion kept as a pet by three owners attacked a woman and her two children, aged 5 and 7, in a narrow alley. The family was rushed to the hospital with injuries to their faces and arms, but thankfully, their condition was reported as stable.
CCTV footage from the incident shows the lion pouncing on the woman and then chasing her children. A man is seen running after the lion, but it is unclear whether he was able to stop the attack in time.
The father of the children later claimed that the lion’s owners did nothing to prevent the attack, instead passively watching as the animal mauled the victims. In response, authorities arrested the three individuals who owned the lion and charged them with negligence and keeping a wild animal without the proper license.
Arrests and Charges
The lion’s owners were apprehended after attempting to flee the scene in a van with the lion in tow. The police later transferred the lion to wildlife authorities, and officials confirmed the owners would be prosecuted under the Wildlife Act.
In Pakistan, while owning big cats like lions is legal with the proper licenses, keeping them within city limits is prohibited. The owners of the lion failed to obtain a proper license and now face the possibility of up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to $17,500.
Legal and Cultural Context
Owning exotic animals like lions is seen as a status symbol in Pakistan, and many wealthy individuals keep them as pets. However, there are strict regulations for those who wish to own such animals, including a formal registration process and a $176 fee for a license.
Despite this, it is illegal to keep these animals within the city limits of Lahore, where the attack took place.
The incident has highlighted a concerning issue: the illegal keeping of wild animals as pets in urban areas. Lahore authorities have launched a crackdown on this practice, arresting individuals and capturing lions since the attack.
The crackdown is part of an effort to protect public safety and ensure that wild animals are kept in appropriate environments, such as zoos or wildlife sanctuaries, rather than in private homes.
Authorities’ Response
The deputy inspector general of Lahore Police, Muhammad Faisal Kamran, condemned the incident, stating that wild animals are often kept in private residences without proper permits or precautions.
He emphasized that the unregulated ownership of such animals poses a danger to public safety and can result in tragic incidents like this one.
Punjab authorities are now intensifying efforts to regulate the ownership of wild animals across the province. The government has arrested five individuals and captured 13 lions as part of this province-wide crackdown. Kamran’s comments underscore the importance of enforcing legal measures to prevent further incidents.
The attack by a pet lion in Lahore has shed light on the dangers of keeping wild animals in urban areas without proper regulation. While owning big cats is legal in Pakistan, the practice poses significant risks to public safety, as evidenced by this horrifying attack.
The authorities’ swift actions to arrest the lion’s owners and launch a crackdown on illegal wildlife ownership demonstrate a growing commitment to preventing such incidents in the future.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that wild animals are kept in safe, legal, and appropriate environments, away from populated areas.
