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A Pakistani man was mauled by a lion, leaving him severely injured, after he entered its cage reportedly to shoot a TikTok video.
The person, recognized as Muhammad Azeem, was trying to movie the video with the lion at a breeding farm within the nation’s Punjab province, reported the Tribune Categorical Information newspaper.
The incident occurred as Mr Azeem, reported to be in his late 20s, entered the cage with out the permission of the farm proprietor in Lahore and tried to method the lion, cellphone in hand, experiences mentioned.
Nonetheless, the lion charged, inflicting him extreme accidents to his face, shoulder, and arm.
The farm proprietor swiftly rescued him and rushed him to the close by Jinnah Hospital, the place he was receiving remedy.
The incident has prompted the Punjab Wildlife Division to order motion in opposition to the farm proprietor.
The Director Common of Wildlife mentioned it has initiated authorized proceedings in opposition to the farm proprietor and directed the cancellation of the farm’s license.
Protecting wild cats as pets just isn’t unusual in Pakistan, the place rich businessmen have been recognized to function personal zoos and typically parade the animals for the general public.
It comes per week after the Punjab authorities made amendments to the Wildlife Act 1974 to manage the possession and administration of untamed animals, similar to lions and tigers. The amendments embrace a ban on maintaining such animals in city areas and prohibiting taking pictures TikTok or different movies with the wild animals.
Violators of wildlife safety legal guidelines will face fines of as much as PKR500,000 (£1450).
Senior Punjab authorities minister Marryum Aurangzeb mentioned the legislation now covers 5 species of massive cats – lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars.
“There had been no laws for the previous 70 years relating to the maintaining of those animals, resulting in their presence in properties,” she mentioned.
“A strict ban has been imposed on displaying these animals on TikTok or different social media platforms. Minimal requirements have been established for maintaining them, they usually should be housed exterior metropolis limits. Homeowners will likely be given time to relocate these animals; failure to conform will end in authorized motion and FIRs,” she added.
Wild and unique animals similar to snakes and uncommon birds are stored as pets by wealthy Pakistanis as many see it as an emblem of energy and wealth. They’re often imported from international locations like South Africa or bred inside the nation, elevating considerations over animal security and animal cruelty.
In line with animal activists, whereas there are particular procedural necessities for importing wild animals into Pakistan there aren’t any legal guidelines as soon as they’re contained in the nation. The legal guidelines which shield the rights of native animals didn’t lengthen to animals that had been imported.
They are saying the pattern of maintaining wild animals as pets has solely elevated with the rise in the usage of social media within the nation in a race to extend followers.
In 2023, a pet leopard escaped and ran unfastened in a residential space in Islamabad, terrorising locals for days. Movies circulated on social media to point out the wild cat leaping over partitions and working round automobiles in a panicked frenzy. The animal was captured nearly after six hours and three folks had been injured within the incident.
