Lion seized in Lahore after viral selfie sparks Wildlife Dept raid

Lahore: In a swift response to a viral video circulating on social media, the Punjab Wildlife Department raided a house in Lahore’s Iqbal Town and seized a lion that was being kept illegally.

The video, which showed the resident, Azhar Mehmood, taking a selfie with the wild animal, prompted authorities to take immediate action.

According to the Punjab Wildlife Department, the lion was housed in an illegal cage on the roof of Mehmood’s home, which did not meet the required safety and welfare standards for wild animals. The department emphasized that under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to keep wild animals without permission and display them publicly.

The Punjab government recently enacted stricter amendments to wildlife laws. These amendments stipulate that individuals found keeping a lion or any other wild animal without a license, displaying them in public, or promoting them can face severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million.

Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb praised the Wildlife Department’s prompt action, stating that the government would not tolerate violations of wildlife laws. “There will be no leniency for anyone breaking the law,” she said, stressing the government's commitment to ensuring the protection of wild animals. She added that under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the enforcement of wildlife laws would be strictly upheld.