On a bustling street in the heart of Lahore, Pakistan, a quiet evening turned into a shocking incident: Security cameras recorded the moment a lion, kept as a pet, jumped over a concrete wall and attacked a woman and two small children.
The unusual event occurred on the night between Thursday and Friday, causing great panic in the neighborhood. In footage released by the Lahore police, the 11-month-old lion is seen jumping over a protective wall surrounding the home where it was kept. Seconds later, it attacks an elderly woman carrying shopping bags, knocks her to the ground, and pins her down. A passerby who witnessed the scene picked up a bottle or similar object and struck the lion. The blow deterred the animal, which moved away from the woman and continued running along the street. The woman managed to get up and flee the scene.
The lion, however, did not stop. According to a report filed with the police, the father of two children aged five and seven reported that his children were also attacked by the lion, which bit and scratched their faces and hands. All three were evacuated to the hospital, but fortunately, none were seriously injured and were released after receiving treatment.
The father claimed in the report that the lion's owners, who came out of their home after hearing the commotion, did not rush to help and were even seen amused by the events. "They stood and laughed as they watched their lion attacking passersby," the report stated.
On Friday, the police announced that they had arrested three suspects who fled the scene with the lion. They were located within 12 hours of the incident. The lion was confiscated and transferred to a local wildlife park, where it was reported to be "in good health."
As disturbing as this story is, it is not unprecedented in Pakistan: According to authorities, it is yet another case in a series of incidents where lions are kept as pets and sometimes escape or attack. Keeping exotic wildlife — especially lions — is considered a status symbol in Punjab, the richest province in the country. Many local wealthy individuals purchase or raise lions to display their wealth, sometimes even bringing them to public events.
After a case in December 2024, when an adult lion escaped from a cage in another neighborhood in the city and terrorized dozens of residents before being shot dead by a security guard, a stricter law was passed restricting the ownership of big cats: Now a special license is required, and the animals must be kept on farms of at least 10 acres (approximately 40,000 square meters or 40 dunams). Additionally, pet owners are required to pay a high registration fee.
Now, following the latest incident, voices are growing louder calling for further tightening of legislation and a reevaluation of the dangerous idea of keeping a non-domesticated predator as a "pet."