Packing a wild animal punch, Lahore saw its share of drama as a pet lion made an unwanted entry into a family’s life, attacking a woman and her three children, who bravely fended off the beast with minor scratches.
Police swiftly took action, apprehending the lion’s owners for the perilous act of holding a wild animal sans license and for their part in letting the feline free. The majestic but ferocious creature was then carted off to a wildlife park for some much-needed peace and quiet.
In Pakistan, owning big cats like lions, cheetahs, and tigers can shoot one’s status up a notch, and all it takes is a one-time registration fee of 50,000 rupees ($176; £129). But these luxurious pets must live outside the cities, a rule Lahore sadly neglected.
The father of the injured children recounted a horror as the lion’s owners just stood by, their pet tearing into his family like a piece of barbecue. No heroics, just cold, hard nothing.
The incident was caught on camera, showing the mother picking herself up and dashing back for help, only to find panic-stricken onlookers fleeing in every direction.
After the incident, the Punjab authorities decided enough was enough and waged war on illicit wildlife possession, netting five culprits and recovering a dozen lions.
Just months before, a Pakistani YouTube sensation faced judgment for his own illicit lion cub, gifted as a wedding present. As punishment, it was decreed that he spread awareness on animal welfare, no cat videos included.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge9ze961eo
