An escaped pet lion attacked a woman and two children in Lahore with injuries that hospitalized victims but stopped short of critical trauma.
At a Glance
- A pet lion escaped its enclosure and attacked a woman and her 5- and 7-year-old children.
- CCTV captured the lion leaping over a wall, pouncing on the group, and clawing the victims.
- All were taken to hospital for treatment; none were in critical condition.
- Police arrested three men and seized the 11-month-old male lion.
- Authorities said the owners “appeared amused” during the attack.
Carnage on the Streets
CCTV footage released by police shows the lion jumping a barrier and chasing a woman carrying shopping bags before knocking her to the ground and clawing her two children’s arms and faces, according to CBS News and AFP reports. All three victims were rushed to a nearby hospital but were not critically injured.
Police confirmed the seizure of the 11-month-old lion and the arrests of three individuals within 12 hours of the incident. The lion has since been relocated to a wildlife park and appears to be in good health — a finding echoed by officials from Arab News.
Watch a report: Pet lion attacks woman, children in Lahore
https://www.ndtv.com/video/escaped-pet-lion-attacks-woman-children-on-pakistan-street-961485
Legal and Social Fallout
The incident has reignited public concern over the illicit ownership of exotic pets in Punjab province. Authorities have noted that, although owning big cats has been a status symbol among the wealthy, the government recently tightened [licensing and residency laws], requiring non-residential ownership and large property acreage. According to Gulf Today, arrests and wildlife department action followed immediately, with legal cases filed under the updated wildlife protection regulations.
This event follows a December 2024 escape in Lahore that ended with a lion being fatally shot. At that time, the provincial government had already enacted reforms mandating licensing and banning exotic animals from residential zones.
Wild Pet Policies on Trial
Police and wildlife officials emphasized the dangers of allowing exotic species in residential areas. The Wildlife Department has called for public vigilance and reports of similar pet ownership to reduce future risk. The Lahore attack has spurred renewed calls to enforce bans on keeping predators and strengthen inspection of private wildlife facilities.
This violent incident not only traumatized victims and distressed a community—it also shines a harsh spotlight on a booming yet perilous trend of private ownership of dangerous wildlife. Jurists and animal-rights advocates argue it may accelerate the implementation of stricter enforcement of the region’s new wildlife ownership rules.
