LAHORE:
After launching a crackdown against illegal keeping of lions and other dangerous wild animals, Punjab Wildlife Department officials has seized 18 lions from cities across the province during the past 24 hours.
The officials arrested five people, registered five FIRs and launched investigations into two additional cases.
The largest operation took place on Saturday in Lahore, where Punjab Wildlife Director General Mubeen Elahi led a team to raid a private breeding farm located on Bedian Road.
The raiding team seized five lions — three male and two female — from the premises. The raid was part of a series of inspections that targeted illegal big cat ownership in major cities.
According to the DG, nine lions were taken into custody in Lahore, where four people were arrested, one private enclosure was sealed and three FIRs were registered.
In Gujranwala, four lions were seized and the process for lodging an FIR was initiated.
In Faisalabad, two lions were confiscated, one enclosure sealed and a case initiated.
Meanwhile, in Multan, three lions were seized, one person was arrested and two FIRs were registered.
DG Mubeen Elahi emphasised that the government would not allow any big cats to be kept in urban residential areas. He made it clear that the crackdown would continue without pause or exception until all violations were eliminated.
He added that, according to official record, there are 587 big cats currently registered in Punjab, but authorities believe the actual number may be significantly higher due to the prevalence of illegal ownership in both urban and rural settings.
