Name: Crackdown on big cats as pets in Pakistan | BBC News
Uploaded: 2025-07-22T16:52:46.000Z
Duration: 2 min 57 s
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Now a crackdown against people keeping big cats as illegal pets has been launched in the province of Punjab in Pakistan.

So far 26 big cats have been rescued and eight people arrested.

This comes after one lion escaped in the city of Lahore attacking a woman and two children.

The moment was captured on film two weeks ago and triggered public outrage.

The BBC's Pakistan correspondent Azadeh Moshiri joined wildlife officials on their raids.

Officials worry their parents are hidden away in unsafe conditions.

People breed lions and then sell the cubs to others who keep them as pets on rooftops.

So these breeding farms are the root of the problem.

The man responsible is missing, leaving his caretaker holding the bag.

Public pressure has led to nearly daily raids.

After this video triggered a public uproar.

A pet lion escaping and attacking a woman and two children in Lahore.

One breeder has been given three months to build bigger cages.

Big cats are extremely popular in Punjab.

Symbol of the ruling PMLN party, supporters defy laws and occasionally take them to rallies.

Now as these raids continue, there are still people who are openly selling lions and cubs.

And we managed to get in touch with one man in a busy neighbourhood.

These are the cubs over here that he has bred.

More people watch others with lions on social media and get tempted to buy them, especially since 2015.

There are so many big cats in Punjab, officials worry there isn't enough space in public zoos to relocate them.

As for the cubs they rescued earlier, they're receiving medical checks before they're released into the main park.

Officials say soon, more big cats will join them.