A young man was seriously injured after trying to make a TikTok video with a caged lion at a breeding farm in Lahore.
The incident occurred at Mian Umar Dola’s breeding farm in Sabzazar area, where Azim approached the caged lion to shoot a video, Express News reported.
However, the lion suddenly attacked him, causing injuries to his face, shoulder and arm. The injured man was taken to Jinnah Hospital, where he received medical treatment.
Following the attack, the Director General of Punjab Wildlife issued an order to revoke the license of the breeding farm and initiated legal action against the person responsible.
A spokesperson for the Punjab Wildlife Department stated that the Director General had ordered the cancellation of the license of the breeding farm, urging strict action against the owner.
A few days ago, the Punjab cabinet approved amendments to the regulations of the Forest and Wildlife Department, marking a crucial step in conserving big cats and protecting forest resources.
Under the new amendments, lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas and jaguars have been added to Schedule II of the Wildlife Act 1974, making it illegal to keep these animals as pets.
From now on, a license will be required to keep these big cats in breeding farms, and the Punjab Wildlife Department will oversee the licensing process.
The fee for keeping a big cat will be fixed at Rs 50,000.
Additionally, specific requirements regarding cage sizes and open areas have been established for these animals.
To prevent exploitation, promotion of big cats on platforms such as TikTok and other social media will be banned, and violators will face legal repercussions.
Minister Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that big cats will not be allowed in urban areas under any circumstances, although they can be kept outside the city limits.
Owners will have a period to relocate their animals, after which legal action will be taken against those who fail to comply.
The cabinet also introduced amendments to the Punjab Forest Traffic Rules, 2024, which will set up checkpoints at strategic locations to combat illegal logging.
Transportation of forest products between dusk and dawn will be considered illegal, and forestry officials will have the authority to close depots and impose fines for any violations.
