A runaway pet lion attacked a woman and two children on a busy street in Lahore, Pakistan, according to police statements on Friday.
Police footage shared by various media outlets showed the lion leaping over a barrier from its enclosure and chasing a woman carrying shopping bags on Thursday night. Surveillance video captured the lion pouncing on her back and knocking her to the ground, while a child attempted to flee. The lion was then seen chasing other pedestrians as bystanders scrambled to escape.
According to a police statement citing the children's father, quoted by AFP, the lion attacked his kids aged five and seven years, after injuring the mother, causing injuries to their arms and faces.
The victims received hospital treatment, though their injuries were not life-threatening.
The father's statement in the police report indicated that the lion's owners appeared entertained by the attack on pedestrians.
Three individuals were arrested in connection to the case by police on Friday. "The suspects departed with the lion but were apprehended within 12 hours of the incident," the Lahore Deputy Inspector General Operations office told AFP.
The 11-month-old male lion was seized by authorities and transferred to a wildlife sanctuary, where the staff confirmed the animal's healthy condition.
In Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab, keeping exotic animals, particularly large felines, has traditionally indicated status and influence.
In December 2024, a security guard fatally shot an adult lion that had escaped its enclosure in another Lahore district, causing panic among residents.
This event led the provincial administration to implement new regulations governing the trade, purchase, breeding and ownership of large cats.
Current regulations require owners to obtain proper licences for these animals, which are prohibited in residential zones. Breeders must pay substantial registration fees, and farms must occupy at least 10 acres of land.
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