11 seized lions sent to Safari Park

LAHORE:

The seizure of 11 illegally kept lions from the Nawan Kot area has raised questions about the monitoring mechanisms of the Punjab Wildlife Rangers.

Under wildlife laws, keeping big cats in urban residential areas is prohibited.

The action came after a lioness attacked and injured a girl in Nawan Kot.

Following the incident, the owners fled along with the lioness. However, they were arrested after a few hours. Subsequent action led to the seizure of 11 lions from a factory in the area. Of them, five were female, three male and three cubs.

Lahore Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Adnan Wirk said all the seized big cats had been shifted to the Safari Park. He added that a case has been registered for keeping the wild animals without a licence.

Sources claimed that the lions had been shifted from Sheikhupura to Lahore some time ago and were being kept secretly.

According to wildlife officials, keeping big cats without a licence can result in a fine of up to Rs5 million and imprisonment of up to seven years. The annual registration fee for one big cat is Rs50,000.

The wildlife rangers launched a registration campaign for big cats last year, during which 34 illegally kept animals were seized from Lahore and other districts.