Acting on the special directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Wildlife Department has launched a sweeping crackdown on illegal lion keeping across the province, vowing zero tolerance for violations of wildlife laws, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Saturday.
The operation, led under a stringent policy to uphold public safety and wildlife regulations, has already seen 22 locations raided across Punjab. So far, 13 lions have been seized, 5 individuals arrested, and 5 FIRs registered, while 2 additional cases remain under investigation.
Lahore alone accounted for a major portion of the action, where 4 lions were recovered, 4 individuals arrested, 3 FIRs lodged, and one illegal enclosure sealed. In Gujranwala, authorities recovered 4 lions and registered one FIR. In Faisalabad, 2 lions were taken into custody, an enclosure sealed, and one case is under active investigation. Multan authorities recovered 3 lions, made one arrest, and registered 2 FIRs.
The Punjab government, through Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, reiterated its firm stance:
“Illegal wildlife trade is intolerable. Public safety will not be compromised. Lion keeping without a license is not just a legal offence, it's a social menace.”
The operation will continue without discrimination under a zero-tolerance policy, officials confirmed.
Citizens are urged to report illegal lion ownership or wildlife trade by calling the Wildlife Helpline 1107, ensuring swift and effective action by authorities.