LAHORE (AP) – Authorities in Lahore, a major city in eastern Pakistan, have arrested the owners of a pet lion that escaped from a farmhouse and attacked a woman along with her two young children. The incidents occurred on Wednesday night, raising severe concerns about the ownership of exotic animals in the region.
Dramatic video footage that surfaced following the incident showed the lion leaping over a wall before charging at the victims in a residential area. The attack resulted in injuries to the woman's face and arms, as well as to her two children, aged 5 and 7. Police official Faisal Kamran reported that the lion escaped from its cage, leading to the chaotic scenes that followed.
In the aftermath of the attack, the children's father provided a police report stating that the lion’s owners watched passively as the animal attacked his family, making no attempt to intervene or restrain the lion. This inaction has drawn significant criticism from community members and animal welfare advocates alike. After the incident, the lion was returned to its owners' farmhouse but was subsequently relocated to a wildlife park, ensuring the safety of the public.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the legality and ethics of keeping exotic pets in Pakistan. Owning animals such as lions is often viewed as a status symbol among wealthy individuals in the country. However, this trend raises serious legal and safety concerns, particularly given the high fees and regulations that govern exotic pet ownership.
This attack highlights the risks associated with keeping dangerous wild animals in residential areas and the responsibility of owners to ensure public safety. The legal framework surrounding exotic animal ownership may require re-evaluation to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The arrest of the lion's owners serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of irresponsible ownership, as well as the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws regarding exotic animals in Pakistan.
