Woman and Children Injured in Pet Lion Attack in Pakistan; Owner Arrested (Video)
Islamabad, 7 July – (www.deccanlive.com): In Lahore, Pakistan, a pet lion attacked a woman and her two young children. The police have arrested the lion’s owner.
The attack happened on Wednesday night when the lion escaped from its cage and entered a residential area. It attacked a woman and her two children, aged 5 and 7.
A CCTV video shows the lion jumping over a wall and attacking people. The woman can be seen trying to escape, and people around are running away in fear.
Owner Did Not Stop the Lion
Police have filed a case against the lion’s owner for keeping a lion without a license and for being careless. Officer Faisal Kamran said that the woman and children were injured on their faces and hands.
According to the report, the children’s father said the lion’s owner was present but did not try to stop the animal. After some time, the lion went back to the owner’s farmhouse. Later, police and wildlife officers caught the lion and sent it to a zoo.
Keeping Lions is a Status Symbol in Pakistan
In Lahore, wildlife laws have recently changed. Now, if someone is found guilty of keeping such animals illegally, they can get up to 7 years in jail and a fine of up to 5 million Pakistani rupees.
Many rich people in Pakistan keep lions, tigers, and leopards as pets to show power and wealth. But to do this legally, they must get a permit, pay high fees, and make safety arrangements. However, most people ignore these rules.
To keep a big cat like a lion legally, the animal must be registered and a one-time fee of 50,000 Pakistani rupees (around \$176) must be paid. Also, these animals can only be kept outside city areas.
Police Found 13 Lions in the Area
Lahore is Pakistan’s second-largest city. After this incident, Punjab officials started a campaign against illegal wildlife keeping. So far, they have arrested 5 people and found 13 lions.
YouTuber Punished for Keeping Lion Cub
Earlier this year, a Pakistani YouTuber named Rajab Butt was punished for keeping a lion cub without a license. He had taken photos with the cub during his wedding in December.
Another YouTuber, Umar Dola, had gifted him the cub. The court ordered Rajab to make monthly 5-minute videos for one year to educate people about animal rights and care.
