Some 18 lions remained illegally since the pets were confiscated in Punjab, authorities said on Monday when they threw a repression after one escaped a house and attacked a woman and two children in Lahore.
The woman suffered scratches and bruises, and the two children, five and seven, were hospitalized after the attack last week, but her injuries were not potentially mortal, provincial officials of wildlife said.
The lion, who remained without a license in a house in Lahore, was confiscated and sent to a local safari park, said Mubeen Elahi, general director of the Department of Wildlife and Punjab parks.
The owner was arrested later, police said.
Keeping exotic animals as pets has been fed by social networks, and owners often show their animals online as state symbols.
“According to the new regulations to maintain large cats, no individual is allowed to maintain a lion without a license, without complying with the size of the required cage and without following other standard operational procedures,” said Elahi, and added that the punishment is up to seven years in jail.
“In addition to confiscating the 18 animals, the department raided 38 lions and tigers breeding farms and arrested eight people for violating the rules,” he said, adding that all farms will be inspected at the end of this week. “There are 584 lions and tigers in homes and breeding farms in Punjab.”
“I know many people who keep the big cats as pets,” said Qaim Ali, 30, who had a lion but sold it after attacking his nephew. “Most of them are not interested in breeding, but keep them as a symbol of power and influence in society.”
The department 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 press release issued by 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.
