A recent horrifying incident in Lahore, Pakistan, saw a pet lion escape its enclosure and attack a woman and her two young children, sparking widespread concern and highlighting the perils of keeping exotic animals without proper authorization. The shocking event, captured on security camera footage, occurred on Thursday, July 3, in the Johan Town neighborhood.

The lion, which had escaped from an open cage at a nearby farmhouse, was seen leaping over a concrete wall before pouncing on the woman from behind, knocking her to the ground. A man from the property quickly emerged to chase the lion away from the woman, but the animal continued down the alleyway where it subsequently attacked her two children, aged five and seven. The victims were rushed to a hospital, sustaining injuries to their faces and arms, though authorities confirmed they are now in stable condition.

Following the incident, the lion's owners recaptured the animal and, according to police, attempted to evade authorities by putting it in a vehicle and going into hiding in another district. However, prompt police action led to the arrest of three individuals linked to the lion's ownership on Friday morning, July 4. Muhammad Faisal Kamran, Deputy Inspector General of Lahore Police Operations, confirmed the arrests and stated that the lion had been transferred to wildlife authorities. The children's father later claimed that the lion's owners had stood by and watched during the attack, failing to intervene.

The incident has brought into sharp focus the prevalent issue of keeping wild animals as pets in Pakistan. While owning big cats like lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars is considered a status symbol and is not uncommon, it is legally permissible only with a proper license and upon registration, which involves a one-time fee of 50,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately $176). Crucially, such large animals are mandated to be housed outside city limits. Local media reported that the arrested owners did not possess the necessary license, making their possession illegal. They face potential prosecution under the Wildlife Act, which could lead to a maximum prison term of seven years or a fine of up to $17,500.

Deputy Inspector General Kamran emphasized that such incidents underscore the dangers of wild animals being kept without proper licenses or legal procedures, endangering public safety. In response to this grave concern, the Punjab government announced on Sunday, July 6, a province-wide crackdown on individuals illegally keeping lions and other wild animals. Since the crackdown began, authorities have already captured 13 lions and arrested five individuals for violating wildlife regulations. This concerted effort aims to curb the unauthorized possession of exotic animals and enforce existing wildlife laws.

This recent enforcement follows previous actions against illegal animal ownership, including a case in January where a Pakistani YouTube star, Rajab Butt, with 5.6 million subscribers, was ordered to create animal welfare videos as punishment for illegally owning a lion cub he received as a wedding gift.