The Wildlife Department and Punjab parks arrested five people on Saturday and confiscated 13 lions after launching a repression against people who illegally keep the big cats without a license.
A day before, a pet lion escaped from a house and pursued a woman and two children along a street busy in Lahore. The police arrested three suspects who had fled the place, while the lion was confiscated and sent to a wildlife.
A press release issued today from the provincial government said that the Department of Silvestre launched an “important repression throughout the province” in the special directives of Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz, against those who keep the lions without a license.
“This operation is carried out under a zero tolerance policy and has already led to significant progress,” said the press release, added that the authorities carried out inspections of 22 locations throughout the province.
“Until now, the Wildlife Department has put 13 lions in custody. Five individuals have been arrested, five first information reports (FIR) have registered and two additional actions are pending.”
A video shared by the social media team of the main minister also showed a leopard that was seized.
The press release said that four lions were recovered in Lahore, with four people arrested, a sealed premise and three signed registered.
In Gujranwala, four lions were confiscated, with a FIR currently in process, he added.
Two lions were confiscated in Faisalabad, a premise was sealed and a FIR was in Progreso, while three lions were recovered, one person was arrested and two FIR were housed in fine.
“The illegal trade in wildlife is intolerable and there will be no commitment to public security,” said Senior Minister Marriyum Aurengzeb in the press release.
She said that keeping lions illegally was not only a violation of the law, but also represented a serious social threat.
Aurengzeb emphasized that the strict application of wildlife laws and indiscriminate action would continue against the people involved in illegal activities would be guaranteed.
“The Wildlife Department has reiterated that the law is the same for all and no exceptions will be made,” said the press release, urging citizens to inform any illegal possession of lions.
Maintain exotic animals, especially large cats, since pets have been seen for a long time as a sign of privilege and power in Punjab.
In December 2024, an adult lion escaped from his enclosure in another neighborhood of Lahore, terrorizing residents before being shot dead by a security guard.
The incident led the provincial government to approve new laws that regulate the sale, purchase, reproduction and ownership of large cats. The law now requires that owners obtain licenses for animals that are prevented from being maintained in residential areas.
Breeders have to pay a considerable rate for the record, while the farms must be a minimum of 10 acres.
