or a generation that grew up watching The Lion King and was captivated by the majestic animal with its flowing mane, earth-shaking roar and massive paws, it must be hard to imagine that the big cats were no longer confined to jungles — their natural habitat — or even the zoos. Today, they are also kept as pets.

In the past couple of years, there’s been a significant increase in the number of big cats being bred on farmhouses and tamed to be domesticated. Private keepers of the animal like to show off on social media to gain popular attention. Worse still, people have been caught dealing in illegal trade of the big cats, despite Pakistan being a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that seeks to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

The trends are alarming. Recently, a lion was reported to have escaped from his den in Lahore and injured three people. Later, the animal was shot dead by security guards in the vicinity. In another incident, a social media celebrity was gifted a lion cub only to be arrested for keeping the animal without a licence. He was released after the court ordered him to create 12 videos on animal awareness over a period of 12 months.

The government was quick to take notice of the incidents. In December last, the Punjab Wildlife Department submitted a summary to the Cabinet, which was duly approved. Lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas and jaguars were included in Schedule II of the Wildlife Act 1974.

The owners can now keep big cats subject to certain restrictions. For instance, they need to acquire a legal permit, pay Rs 50,000 as registration fee and have to move the animals to farmhouses away from urban spaces. Violators will face legal action in terms of FIRs and fines ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 5 million, and up to 7 years’ imprisonment.

The News on Sunday spoke with the director general of Wildlife and Parks, Mudassar Riaz. He said, “We’re seeing a lot of big cats, especially the African lion that does not belong to our region. It’s a wild beast and it cannot be tamed. There have been many instances where they have attacked the humans. Hence, we’ve made rules and regulations with the help of the WWF for checking their presence.

“Presently, there is no reliable database but it is estimated that there are 300-400 big cats in the Punjab. With the new law in place, we hope to initiate a phase-out plan by placing advertisements in newspapers, urging the breeders and owners to register their animals, including the cubs. After that, we will assist them in relocating the animals away from urban areas. Within a year, they will have to get their big cats neutered or spayed to prevent population growth,” he added.

The law does not permit sale or purchase of big cats in the Punjab; owners can send them to other areas of Pakistan or export them to other countries with better living standards.

Riaz said, “a wildlife force is being introduced across the province to monitor and handle such cases. Three state-of-the-art rescue centres will also be built where the lions we’ve recovered will be kept. The facility will have in-house veterinarians to look after the animals.”

You need to acquire a legal permit before you can keep the animal, pay Rs 50,000 as registration fee and must move the big cats to farmhouses away from urban spaces. Violators will face legal action in terms of FIRs and fines ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 5 million, and up to 7 years’ imprisonment.

The DG rejected the rumour that some breeders had already got licences. “How could? The [registration] process has just started.”

Some owners of big cats were contacted for their comment, but refused to speak on record.

Regarding sharing images of big cats on social media, he said, “Once the law is enforced, people will not be allowed to do that. The FIA will track them down and register FIRs.”

Riaz also talked of taking strict action against those who flaunt the animal in political rallies.

Animal lovers and activists continue to report cases involving the display of caged, endangered animals and even the animal abuse to relevant authorities.

Dr Uzma Khan, a conservation biologist with over 20 years of experience at WWF-Pakistan, explained that keeping big cats was originally seen as a symbol of power. Over time, some people saw business potential in it and set up breeding farms. Back in the day, the sale of big cats wasn’t banned. The trend evolved further, gaining popularity in online spaces.

As a signatory to CITES, Pakistan is required to strengthen its legal framework to protect these globally endangered species, and to ensure that these do not enter the illegal wildlife trade.

A study, titled An Assessment of the Scale of Illegal Wildlife Trade in Pakistan, was conducted by the WWF-P. It was authored by Dr Khan and Humera Aisha. Their market surveys showed that the animals’ body parts, such as fat, teeth and skin, often ended up in illegal wildlife trade. Dr Khan has been actively involved in helping the government develop regulations to phase out the big cats in private ownership and enforce standards for keeping them in private zoos. “This initiative has been part of the WWF’s agenda for years. It’s encouraging to see it finally taking shape,” she said.

Regarding their living conditions, Dr Khan commented, “We’ve seen cases where the handler, who had looked after the lion for years, was attacked because the animal was frustrated and sick of being confined in a cage, which is not its natural habitat. In such circumstances, even a small trigger can prove fatal for the owners. That is why it’s important for people to understand that big cats are wild animals, and meeting their day-to-day requirements in captivity is highly challenging.”

One of the many challenges of keeping lions is that they cannot be taken to clinics. A number of vets in Lahore specialise in treating the big cats. They are called over every time such a situation arises.

The vets guide the owners on matters such as vaccination of the animal and assisting them during deliveries. Dr Abid Hussain, a vet, says that if people want to keep the big cats, they “must have enough space to allow the animals to move around, have wooden logs to scratch themselves against, and a fresh water source for bathing and drinking. Squeeze cages come in handy during treatment; they help the vets to examine and/ or vaccinate the animals.”

A video has surfaced recently on a private media platform showing exotic animals being kept in a private home in Karachi. The owner can be seen flaunting the animals with a swagger. Such actions promote animal cruelty. The Punjab has taken the first step — by drafting a law. The next challenge is its effective enforcement.

R Umaima Ahmad is a freelance journalist