Lahore residents were shocked after a pet lion attacked an eight-year-old girl in the Bhaigewal area of Iqbal Town. The lion had broken free from its enclosure and inflicted injuries to the girl’s head and ears. She was immediately taken to Shaikh Zayed Hospital for urgent medical care, and thankfully, her wounds were not life-threatening.
The incident has reignited concerns about the growing trend of keeping wild animals as pets in Punjab. Locals expressed fear and outrage over the risks posed by exotic animals in residential areas. Police quickly arrested the lion’s owner, and authorities confirmed that a full investigation is underway to ensure strict legal action is taken.
This is not the first case of such attacks in Lahore. Last year, a pet lion escaped its enclosure and chased a woman and her two children down a busy street. CCTV footage showed the lion leaping over a wall, knocking down the woman, and clawing at her five- and seven-year-old children. All victims were hospitalized but recovered from non-life-threatening injuries. The lion, 11 months old, was captured and relocated to a wildlife park.
Experts say exotic pets, particularly big cats, are often kept as status symbols in Punjab, posing serious safety hazards. Following similar incidents in December 2024, the government passed new regulations requiring licenses for exotic pets, banning big cats in residential areas, imposing breeder fees, and mandating that exotic animals be kept on farms of at least 10 acres.
Authorities are urging residents to report illegal exotic pets and stressing that safety regulations must be strictly enforced to prevent future attacks.
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