LAHORE: In a vigorous effort to curb illegal wildlife trade, Punjab’s wildlife authorities have seized 13 lions and apprehended five individuals, just a day after a pet lion injured three people in Lahore. The crackdown targets those illegally keeping lions without proper licenses, initiated under directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and conducted under a strict zero-tolerance policy.
Since Friday morning, inspections across 22 locations in various districts have resulted in the confiscation of 13 lions, the arrest of five suspects, and the filing of five FIRs. Two additional operations are currently ongoing.
The recent surge in enforcement follows a dramatic incident where an 11-month-old male lion escaped from its owner’s home in Lahore, chasing a woman and two children down a busy street. Police footage showed the lion leaping over a wall and attacking the children, aged five and seven, causing injuries to their arms and faces. The victims were hospitalized but are reported to be out of danger. The suspects involved in the incident fled but were captured within 12 hours, and the lion was recovered and transferred to a wildlife park.
In the wake of this event, authorities intensified their efforts, recovering four lions in Lahore, arresting four individuals, sealing a premise, and registering three FIRs. Similar operations in Gujranwala resulted in four lions being seized and one FIR underway, while Faisalabad recovered two lions, sealed a location, and prepared an FIR. In Multan, three lions were confiscated, with one arrest and two FIRs filed.
Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the illegal wildlife trade, emphasizing that keeping lions without authorization poses a severe threat to public safety. “Illicit keeping of lions is a criminal offense and endangers society,” she stated. She urged citizens to report illegal wildlife activities by calling the Wildlife helpline 1107 to aid swift action.
Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strict enforcement of wildlife laws, promising ongoing operations against those involved in illegal trade and possession of wild animals.
