In Lahore, Pakistan, a surprising discovery is causing concern—many people secretly keep lions and tigers as pets. This came to light after a pet lion attacked a woman and her two children on a street. The government is now cracking down on the illegal ownership of big cats.Illegal big cat ownership in Pakistan.
Officials recently raided a farmhouse on the edge of Lahore and found 26 lions and tigers. The owner, Fayyaz, is known as one of Pakistan’s biggest lion dealers. He claims the animals are happy, but one lion’s loud roar tells a different story.
In Pakistan keeping big cats has long been a symbol of power and status. Some people even take them to weddings or post them on social media. But now, new laws require owners to pay a fee of 50,000 rupees per animal and limit how many cats they can keep. The rules also say that these private zoos must be open to the public.
If someone breaks these rules, they could be fined up to 200,000 rupees or face seven years in jail.
Wildlife officials say this is just the beginning. In another raid, five sick lion cubs were found alone in cages. Their parents were missing—possibly hidden. The cubs were taken to Lahore’s public zoo for medical care.
Experts believe there are hundreds—maybe thousands—of unregistered lions in Punjab. Some of these animals may be inbred and sick, which could lead to euthanasia.
Fayyaz now has three months to turn his lion farm into a zoo. Animal rights activists say the government should create sanctuaries instead of just converting private farms into public zoos. They are calling for real change—not just temporary fixes.
