Police in Pakistan apprehended the owners of a pet lion responsible for a shocking attack on a woman and her three young children after the big cat escaped. Eye-opening CCTV footage from Lahore captured the moment the lion leapt over a concrete barrier, pursuing the woman as onlookers fled in dread. Fortunately, the woman and her children, aged just five and seven, sustained injuries but are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have charged the owners with illegally harboring a wild animal without a proper license and negligence, leading to the lion's escape. After the incident, the lion has been captured and relocated to a wildlife sanctuary.
Owning big cats has become a controversial status symbol in Pakistan, where it is technically legal to keep various wild animals, including lions, cheetahs, and tigers, provided they are registered and a one-time fee of 50,000 rupees ($176; £129) is paid. However, these animals must be housed outside urban areas, and Lahore, being the second-largest city in the country, raises questions about such practices.
The children's father expressed frustration that the lion's owners stood by without attempting to control their pet while it attacked his family on Wednesday. Video footage further illustrated the panic, with the woman struggling to regain her footing before seeking help from startled witnesses.
In response to this incident, Punjab authorities have initiated a crackdown on illegal wildlife ownership, resulting in the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of 13 lions in the region. The case brings to mind a previous incident where a popular YouTube personality was mandated to promote animal welfare as punishment for illegal possession of a lion cub, raising the profile of animal rights issues in Pakistan.
