Tue Jan 21 13:38:32 UTC 2025: ## Man Critically Injured in Lion Attack During Risky TikTok Video Shoot; Pakistan Cracks Down on Big Cat Ownership
**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – A Pakistani man is fighting for his life after a lion attacked him while he was attempting to film a TikTok video at a breeding farm in Punjab province. Muhammad Azeem suffered severe head, face, and arm injuries when he entered the lion’s enclosure without permission and approached the animal too closely. Farm owner intervention saved Azeem, who was subsequently hospitalized in critical condition.
The incident has prompted a swift and decisive response from the Pakistani government. Following the attack, authorities announced legal action against the farm owner, including the revocation of their breeding license. This action is part of a broader crackdown on the unregulated keeping of big cats – lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars – in the country.
For the first time in 70 years, Pakistan has implemented legislation regulating the possession of these animals, bringing them under the purview of the Wildlife Act of 1974. Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that the lack of previous legislation led to the proliferation of big cats in private hands. The new regulations include minimum housing standards, a mandate for keeping the animals outside city limits, and a strict ban on showcasing them on social media platforms like TikTok. Owners have been given a deadline to relocate their animals, facing legal repercussions for non-compliance.
First Piper 