Fri Jul 04 16:12:48 UTC 2025: **Escaped Pet Lion Injures Woman and Children in Lahore**
**Lahore, Pakistan -** Panic erupted on a busy street in Lahore on Thursday night when an escaped pet lion attacked a woman and two young children. Dramatic CCTV footage released by police shows the 11-month-old male lion leaping over a wall and pursuing the unsuspecting pedestrians.
According to a police report, the lion initially pounced on the woman, knocking her to the ground. The animal then turned its attention to her two children, aged five and seven, clawing at their arms and faces. All three victims were rushed to the hospital, where they were treated for their injuries. Fortunately, their condition is not considered critical.
The father of the children stated that the lion’s owners, who emerged from the house after the escape, appeared amused by the attack. Police have arrested three men in connection with the incident, who fled the scene after taking the lion with them. All of them were arrested within 12 hours of the incident.
The lion has been confiscated and transported to a local wildlife park, where officials report it is in good health.
The incident has renewed concerns about the keeping of exotic animals as pets in Punjab province, where it is often seen as a status symbol. This is not the first such incident in Lahore; in December 2024, another escaped lion was shot dead after terrorizing residents. Following that incident, the provincial government passed stricter regulations on the ownership of big cats, including licensing requirements and restrictions on keeping them in residential areas.
First Piper 