Pet lion creates panic on Lahore street, mauls family as owners stand and watch

A pet lion escaped from a farmhouse in Lahore, Pakistan, triggering chaos and horror in a residential neighbourhood. The lion attacked a woman and her two young children as people, including the lion's owners, watched without intervening. The animal spread panic on Lahore street before it was captured and sent to a wildlife park, according to a report in the UK's Daily Mail.

According to the woman’s husband, who later filed a complaint with the police, the attack unfolded in front of the owners, who appeared amused by the scene.

The shocking incident was captured on video, showing the lion leaping over a boundary wall before pouncing on the unsuspecting victims.

The footage reveals the lion jumping onto the woman’s back and knocking her to the ground. A man nearby rushed in to protect the woman and her children as panic spread through the area.

The victims, a woman and her two children aged five and seven, suffered injuries to their faces and arms. The attack occurred on Wednesday night, after the lion escaped its cage.

Following the incident, the lion was captured and returned to its owners’ farmhouse. Authorities have since relocated the animal to a wildlife park.

The recent attack sent shockwaves across the city, especially as the video shows the injured woman scrambling to her feet and running to seek help while bystanders flee in fear.

PET LIONS FOR PAKISTAN'S RICH?

The authorities in Pakistan's Punjab launched a crackdown on illegal wildlife ownership. So far, five individuals have been arrested, and 13 lions have been seized.

In another case earlier this year, Pakistani YouTube star Rajab Butt, who has over 5.6 million subscribers, was ordered by a court to create videos on animal welfare after he illegally kept a lion cub gifted to him at his wedding.

In Pakistan, keeping lions as pets has become a status symbol among the wealthy, despite the legal requirements and high costs involved.

This isn't the first time Lahore has witnessed such an incident.

In December 2024, another lion escaped its enclosure in a different part of the city, sparking fear among residents before being shot dead by a security guard.

That episode prompted the provincial government to introduce stricter laws to regulate the sale, purchase, breeding, and ownership of big cats.

PAKISTAN'S LAW ENFORCEMENT REMAINS WEAK

Under the new regulations, lion owners must now obtain official licences, and big cats are prohibited from being kept in residential areas. Breeders are required to pay significant registration fees, and lion farms must be spread over at least 10 acres.

Despite these rules, enforcement remains weak. In Karachi, a lion was spotted roaming freely on Sharea Faisal in 2023. The incident didn’t shock many residents, as lions have often been seen at pet clinics, festivals, and in private homes, presented as “trained” and “happy” by their owners.

Pakistan’s laws regarding the ownership of exotic animals remain vague and loosely enforced. While there are procedures for importing wild animals, regulations on their housing, diet, and care are lacking. This legal loophole allows affluent residents of cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad to keep wild animals in their homes without proper oversight.

In Karachi, a wildlife licence can be obtained for as little as PKR 10,000 (3,008.35 INR), making it legally possible, at least on paper, to own such animals. But in reality, the lack of regulation and monitoring means both the animals and the people around them remain at risk. Cases have surfaced of lions being kept chained in poor conditions, with some even being used for entertainment and profit.

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