KARACHI – A disturbing video circulating on social media has once again raised serious concerns about the growing trend of keeping lions as pets in Pakistan, and highlighted the dangers of both to humans and to wildlife conservation.
In the viral footage, a young man can be seen visiting a friend’s home to see a pet lion. The video, apparently recorded on the rooftop of a house, shows the lion suddenly attacking one of the individuals.
Despite the owner’s desperate attempts to control the wild animal — including beating it with a stick — the man sustains serious injuries.
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The incident has triggered widespread outrage and debate online, with many users calling for stricter enforcement of laws prohibiting the domestication of wild animals.
The wildlife experts have long warned against the practice of keeping exotic predators like lions in domestic settings. While some owners believed that raising lion cubs in human environments may suppress their natural instincts, conservationists insist that such assumptions are dangerously misguided.
“Lions are apex predators by nature. No matter how familiar they seem, their instinct can resurface at any moment,” a wildlife official said, urging authorities to crack down on the illegal ownership of wild animals.
Under Pakistani wildlife protection laws, keeping wild species such as lions without proper authorization is a punishable offense.
Yet, the trend of exotic animal ownership persists among the elite, often showcased on social media.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of similar attacks, prompting renewed calls for public awareness campaigns and stricter wildlife enforcement to prevent further harm to humans and the endangered species alike.
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