Latest news with #PunjabWildlifeAct
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
African lion rescued after abuse video circulates on TikTok
Listen to article A viral video on social media platform TikTok showing the abuse of an African male lion has prompted swift action by the Punjab Wildlife Department. Officials have seized the lion, while the suspect remains at large. In the widely circulated video, a young man, identified as Muhammad Usman, son of Muhammad Shahid, can be seen illegally keeping and harassing an African male lion in an urban area. READ MORE: Bear rescued from abuse, illegal captivity Acting under a zero-tolerance policy, the Punjab Wildlife Rangers in Gujranwala, under instructions from the Chief Wildlife Ranger, conducted a raid in collaboration with the local police from Sadar Police Station, Gujranwala. According to Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Gujranwala, Sheikh Muhammad Zahid, the suspect managed to escape by blending into a crowd of onlookers during the operation. However, the authorities successfully took an adult African male lion into custody. The Punjab Wildlife Department has registered a case against Muhammad Usman under relevant sections of the Wildlife Act of 1974 and Sections 186 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Pending the outcome of the case, the confiscated lion has been transferred to Adil Wildlife Breeding Farm. Wildlife Department officials emphasised that illegally keeping wildlife and subjecting animals to harassment in urban settings is intolerable. They reiterated their commitment to continuing strict enforcement actions against such violations. The latest confiscation followed an earlier incident in Gujranwala, where two African lions were taken into custody after a TikTok video went viral showing them being paraded through a residential neighbourhood alongside automatic firearms. In the footage, a man identified as Luqman—known online as "Loha"—was seen walking a chained lion in the Batala Sharam Singh area, raising concerns about both public safety and animal welfare. READ MORE: Man injured in lion attack while filming TikTok video Responding to the incident, Deputy Director Wildlife Rangers Gujranwala Region Sheikh Zahid Iqbal had ordered immediate action. A team led by Senior Wildlife Ranger Muhammad Umair traced the lions to a private farmhouse, where they were being kept without any legal permits or documentation under the Punjab Wildlife Act. Wildlife officials confirmed that no valid registration had been submitted for the animals, leading to their removal by the authorities.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Lions confiscated after social media stunt
Two African lions have been seized by the Punjab Wildlife Department after a viral TikTok video showed them being paraded through a residential neighbourhood in Gujranwala alongside firearms. The wildlife department officials said the video featured a man identified as Luqman - known on social media as "Loha" - walking a chained lion through the Batala Sharam Singh area on the outskirts of the city. Automatic weapons were also seen in the footage, prompting fears of both a potential animal attack and a threat to public safety. Following the video's circulation online, Deputy Director Wildlife Rangers Gujranwala Region Sheikh Zahid Iqbal ordered immediate action. Senior Wildlife Ranger Muhammad Umair led the investigation, tracing the incident to a private farmhouse where two African lions were being kept without a license or any legal documentation. "No permits or registrations had been submitted to the department, as required under the Punjab Wildlife Act," said Ranger Umair. A formal case has been registered against a man named Muhammad Akram, believed to be connected to the illegal possession. However, Luqman, the individual seen in the video, is still at large. Under the amended Punjab Wildlife Act of 1974 - revised in 2025 - the private keeping and public display of big cats in residential areas is strictly prohibited. The act also criminalizes sharing social media content that features wildlife in ways that may endanger the animals or the public. Officials emphasised that the lions have now been transferred to a certified wildlife breeding facility, and legal proceedings are underway. "This is not just a violation of animal welfare lawsit's a public safety issue," said a spokesperson for the Wildlife Department. "No one is above the law, and using wild animals for online fame will not be tolerated."
Express Tribune
01-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Two black bears rescued in DG Khan
In an action against wildlife crimes, authorities rescued two black bears being kept in illegal captivity in Dera Ghazi Khan during a joint operation conducted by the Punjab Wildlife Department and local law enforcement agencies. One suspect was arrested and formally charged under the Punjab Wildlife Act. The operation was led by Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger DG Khan, Sidra Al-Muntaha, and Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Muzaffargarh, Abdul Razzaq, with the support of the Muzaffargarh District Police and intelligence officials. Following the successful rescue, the case was brought before a local court, which ordered the immediate transfer of the two bears to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB). The court also directed that legal proceedings be initiated against the accused individual involved in the illegal captivity.
