The Punjab Wildlife Department assisted two lions on Monday that were illegally maintained by a resident in Gujranwala. A case has been registered under the Wildlife Law, and animals have been seized.
A video went viral on social networks that showed a man, identified as Luqman, transporting firearms and parading to a lion with a strap through a residential neighborhood.
The images caused panic among local residents, who feared that the lion could attack someone.
Regarding the instructions of the Wildlife Subdirector Sheikh Zahid Iqbal, the Senior Wildlife Muhammad Umair rangers had the task of locating the suspect and taking the appropriate measures. A raid was made on a farm in the Batala Sharam Singh area, where it was found that the two lions were illegally.
According to Ranger Umair, the suspect had not declared animals to the authorities or obtained any license for their possession. There has also been a case under the Wildlife Law against another individual, Muhammad Akram, who was present at the farm.
However, Luqman, the man who appears in Tiktok’s viral video has not yet been arrested.
It is important to keep in mind that under the Punjab Wildlife Law of 1974, amended in 2025, maintaining or showing large cats in urban areas is a criminal offense.
Punjab’s wildlife authorities have banned the maintenance of large cats in populated areas and have also forbidden to share dangerous videos that involve large cats in social networks.
