Authorities in Pakistan have seized two African lions from a private individual after one of the animals was paraded through public streets in Gujranwala, Punjab province, as part of a TikTok video, according to a report from the German Press Agency (dpa). The stunt, which occurred over the weekend, triggered widespread alarm among local residents.
In the footage, the man can be seen brandishing an automatic rifle while leading a chained lion through crowded urban streets, creating a scene of chaos and fear. The Punjab Wildlife Department has since intervened, arresting the individual and confiscating both lions from his property.
“This individual has been taken into custody and the lions removed from his possession,” confirmed Mohammad Rizwan, spokesperson for the Punjab Wildlife Department. He further stated that the man could face a prison sentence of up to seven years for the unlawful ownership of wild animals and endangering public safety.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing trend of exotic animal ownership in Pakistan. Punjab alone is home to over 100 private breeding facilities, and it is not uncommon for individuals to keep large and dangerous wild animals—such as lions, tigers, and cheetahs—in residential areas.
“No one is permitted to keep lions in private homes, especially in densely populated neighborhoods,” Rizwan emphasized, underlining the risks to both the public and the animals themselves.
In an effort to curb unregulated ownership, the Punjab government recently launched a mobile application encouraging citizens to register their big cats. However, the actual number of such animals in the province remains unclear.
This latest incident follows a similar tragedy earlier in the year when a lion, kept as a pet, was shot dead after escaping its enclosure and wandering the streets of Lahore.
Pakistan’s booming exotic pet trade continues to thrive, driven in part by social media content that glamorizes ownership of wild animals. Videos often depict people interacting affectionately with lions and tigers or showcasing them at public events and political rallies as symbols of status and power—fueling further demand despite serious legal and ethical concerns. —Malay Mail/dpa
Image—Tribune
