Pet Lion Mauls Woman and Children in Lahore, Owners Arrested in Wildlife Crackdown

The owners of a pet lion have been arrested after the animal escaped from an open cage and attacked a woman and her two children in Lahore, Pakistan.

The incident occurred on Thursday, July 3, in the Johan Town area, when the lion escaped from a farmhouse and mauled the victims in a nearby alley. The children, aged 5 and 7, sustained injuries to their faces and arms, while their mother was knocked to the ground. All three were hospitalized and are now in stable condition.

Security footage shared by police captured the moment the lion leaped over a wall and pounced on the woman from behind. A man was later seen chasing the animal away. The lion was recaptured by its owners, who fled the area but were later arrested on Friday, July 4.

Lahore’s Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations, Muhammad Faisal Kamran, confirmed the arrests and said the lion had been handed over to wildlife authorities. He added that the owners lacked the proper license to keep a wild animal, a violation punishable by up to seven years in prison or a $17,500 fine.

Owning exotic animals, particularly big cats, is considered a status symbol in Pakistan, but legal ownership requires a permit and the animals must be kept outside city areas.

In response to the incident, the Punjab government launched a province-wide crackdown on illegal wildlife ownership. As of Sunday, July 6, authorities had seized 13 lions and arrested five individuals for violating wildlife regulations.

“This unfortunate incident highlights how wild animals are often kept without licenses or oversight, putting lives at serious risk,” Kamran stated.