Lahore man arrested for keeping lion in cage on rooftop

Punjab Wildlife Department has seized a lion from a residence in Lahore’s Iqbal Town following a raid, arresting the owner for illegally keeping the wild animal on his rooftop.

The operation was carried out in response to a social media video that went viral and involved a man named Azhar Mehmood taking a photo with the lion.

The Punjab Wildlife Department claims that Azhar Mehmood housed the lion on his home's rooftop in an illegal cage. According to the authorities, the barrier did not adhere to the necessary safety regulations. 

It is against the Wildlife Act to keep wild animals without a license and to advertise their presence in public.

People who are caught keeping lions or other wild animals without the proper permission, displaying them in public, or promoting them on social media could be imprisoned for up to seven years and fined Rs 5 million, according to the Punjab government's recent, stricter amendments to wildlife protection laws.

Maryam Aurangzeb, Punjab's Minister for Information and Culture, praised the Wildlife Department's quick response to the incident. She underlined that breaking rules protecting animals will have legal consequences for everyone. 

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered that these regulations be closely followed in order to ensure the safety and well-being of animals, the minister added. 

The captured lion has been sent to a safe location where it will get the care it needs, according to authorities. To find out how the lion was obtained and whether there were any more offenses, the Wildlife Department is still looking into the matter.

The incident has raised public awareness on the value of appropriate wildlife protection procedures. To help guarantee that wildlife laws are strictly enforced throughout the province, officials have asked residents to report any similar incidents.