Lions confiscated after social media stunt

Unlicensed big cats, illegal weapons spark Wildlife Act violations

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GUJRANWALA:

Two African lions have been seized by the Punjab Wildlife Department after a viral TikTok video showed them being paraded through a residential neighbourhood in Gujranwala alongside firearms.

The wildlife department officials said the video featured a man identified as Luqman - known on social media as "Loha" - walking a chained lion through the Batala Sharam Singh area on the outskirts of the city.

Automatic weapons were also seen in the footage, prompting fears of both a potential animal attack and a threat to public safety.

Following the video's circulation online, Deputy Director Wildlife Rangers Gujranwala Region Sheikh Zahid Iqbal ordered immediate action.

Senior Wildlife Ranger Muhammad Umair led the investigation, tracing the incident to a private farmhouse where two African lions were being kept without a license or any legal documentation.

"No permits or registrations had been submitted to the department, as required under the Punjab Wildlife Act," said Ranger Umair.

A formal case has been registered against a man named Muhammad Akram, believed to be connected to the illegal possession. However, Luqman, the individual seen in the video, is still at large.

Under the amended Punjab Wildlife Act of 1974 - revised in 2025 - the private keeping and public display of big cats in residential areas is strictly prohibited. The act also criminalizes sharing social media content that features wildlife in ways that may endanger the animals or the public.

Officials emphasised that the lions have now been transferred to a certified wildlife breeding facility, and legal proceedings are underway. "This is not just a violation of animal welfare laws—it's a public safety issue," said a spokesperson for the Wildlife Department.

"No one is above the law, and using wild animals for online fame will not be tolerated."