Man bruised while filming video with lion

A man sustained severe injuries while attempting to film a video near a caged pet lion at a breeding farm in Lahore's Sabzazar area.

The victim, identified as Azeem, was attacked by the lion, leaving him with serious wounds to his face, shoulder, and arm.

He was immediately rushed to Jinnah Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

The incident occurred at a breeding farm owned by Mian Umar Dola.

In response, the Punjab Wildlife Department has taken swift action, with the Director General of Wildlife initiating legal proceedings against the farm's owner.

The DG has also directed the cancellation of the breeding farm's license as part of broader enforcement measures. The attack has drawn attention to recently approved amendments by the Punjab cabinet aimed at regulating the ownership and management of lions and other big cats. These laws include a ban on keeping such animals in urban areas, the prohibition of making TikTok or other videos with them, and the introduction of a mandatory Rs50,000 licence fee per lion.

For the first time, big cats have been added to Schedule 2 of the Punjab Wildlife Act 1974, ensuring stricter oversight. While these amendments have been approved, a formal gazette notification is still awaited.

This incident underscores the risks associated with keeping big cats in residential or urban settings without proper safety measures.