The Punjab Wildlife Department conducted a raid in Lahore’s Iqbal Town, seizing a lion that was being kept without a license.
The operation was launched after a viral video surfaced on social media, showing a resident, Azhar Mehmood, taking selfies with the wild animal.
According to wildlife officials, the lion was being illegally kept in a cage on the rooftop of Mehmood’s house. The cage did not meet safety standards, posing a serious threat to both the residents and the animal.
Under the Punjab Wildlife Act, keeping a wild animal without official permission and publicly displaying it is a punishable offense.
Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb praised the Wildlife Department’s swift action, stating that no leniency would be shown to lawbreakers. She reaffirmed that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s directive, is committed to strict enforcement of wildlife protection regulations.
The seized lion has been safely relocated to a wildlife facility, ensuring its proper care. Authorities continue to monitor illegal wildlife possession across the province.
