A lion raised by hand in Lahore, Pakistan, went out of control and attacked a woman and her three young children. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This horrifying incident caused great concern and uproar in the city. The event that took place in the streets of the city frightened the local population, ending with the screams of children and people fleeing in panic.
The video recorded by surveillance cameras shows the lion easily jumping over a wall and chasing a woman who was walking with her two children. The woman and the children fell under the paw and sustained serious injuries.
According to official information, the injured woman and her five and seven-year-old children were hospitalized with severe injuries to their faces and hands. Their condition is currently assessed as stable.
The police opened a criminal case against the owners of the lion after the incident. They were charged with keeping a wild animal without permission and endangering public safety through negligence.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the lion was kept in the city in violation of the law and that its control was not adequately ensured. This incident sparked widespread discussions on social media.
Relatives of the victims stated in interviews with the media that the lion owners did not provide any assistance during the incident and only watched. The video shows the woman falling and running towards people for help, but those around her scattered.
In Pakistan, it is legally permitted to keep lions, leopards, tigers, and other wild animals as private property, but registration and payment of a specified fee are required for this. Additionally, such animals must be kept outside the city.
The violation of this rule complicated the incident. The Punjab provincial government has begun large-scale raids against the illegal keeping of wild animals.
So far, five individuals have been arrested and thirteen lions have been confiscated. Moreover, this incident is not the first.
In January of this year, a famous blogger, Rajab Butt, was held accountable for keeping a lion cub without permission and was required to prepare videos on animal rights protection. These cases indicate that the culture of keeping wild animals at home is increasingly viewed as a symbol of prestige and status in the country.
However, the events clearly show that they pose a significant threat to public safety. Therefore, it is essential to strictly adhere to the laws and regulations regarding the keeping of wild animals.
