Pet Lion Attack Leads to Arrests in Pakistan
Owners face prosecution after big cat injures woman and children.
After a pet lion escaped its enclosure and attacked a woman and two children in **Lahore**, Pakistan, authorities have arrested the owners. The incident has ignited debate around owning exotic animals.
Key Development
Following Thursday’s attack in **Johan** town, police released security footage showing the lion leaping over a wall and attacking the woman. A man, believed to be an owner, chased the animal away. According to the Associated Press, the victims sustained injuries to their faces and arms but are in stable condition.
Police stated that the lion escaped from an open cage at the farmhouse. The owners recaptured it, then attempted to hide in another district. **Muhammad Faisal Kamran**, Deputy Inspector General of **Lahore** Police Operations, announced the arrest of three people Friday morning.
Three people have been arrested after a pet lion jumped a wall and attacked a woman and two children in the Pakistani city of Lahore. https://t.co/TjnyJvDTlV
— CNN International (@cnni) June 7, 2024
“We’ve also captured the lion and transferred it to Wildlife authorities,”
said Kamran.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, illegal wildlife trade is a massive international business, estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars annually (WWF).
Legal Repercussions
Local media reports suggest that the owner lacked a license for the lion and will be prosecuted under the Wildlife Act. This could mean a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine potentially reaching $17,500.
Exotic Pets as Status Symbols
In Pakistan, owning wild cats as pets is considered a status symbol, though it is regulated. A license is required, and such animals must be kept outside city limits.
“This unfortunate incident highlights how wild animals are often kept in such places without a license, or permission — with no legal procedures followed — endangering the lives of many people,”
Kamran stated.
Province-Wide Crackdown
The **Punjab** government declared a province-wide crackdown on unlicensed lion owners. Thirteen lions have been seized, and five individuals have been arrested for violating wildlife regulations.