Pakistan: Owner of escaped pet lion arrested in Lahore

LAHORE: Police in Lahore have arrested a man believed to be one of the owners of a pet lion that escaped from a farmhouse and mauled a woman and her two young children in Lahore’s Johar Town late Thursday night.

 The suspect, identified as Malik Bahram, was taken into custody from the Shah Di Khui area following a joint investigation by police and the Punjab Wildlife Department. Authorities confirmed that the lion was being kept without a license, in violation of the Punjab Wildlife Act.

Attack footage

Dramatic CCTV footage captured the lion leaping over a wall and attacking a family walking along a street. The five- and seven-year-old children suffered deep claw wounds to their arms and faces, while their mother was also injured in the attack. The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage over the illegal ownership of wild animals in residential areas.

 “The suspect not only failed to obtain the required license but also ignored basic safety measures. This kind of negligence puts countless lives at risk,” said Lahore Deputy Chief Wildlife Officer Adnan Virk.

Illegal possession

The Lahore police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bahram under sections of the Punjab Wildlife Act and for attempted murder, citing criminal negligence that led to the animal’s escape and subsequent injuries, according to Dawn online.

Officials say that keeping a lion without a license is a non-bailable offense, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a Rs5 million fine.

Lion captured

Wildlife staff, trained in handling exotic animals, captured the lion after hours of search operations across the neighborhood. Panic had gripped the area, with terrified residents and bystanders fleeing as the big cat roamed the streets.

Authorities have urged citizens to report illegal wild animal ownership by calling the Wildlife Department helpline at 1107.