Keeping wild animals as pets may be a hobby for many, but the fact remains that these animals are a risky proposition if precautionary measures aren’t taken or necessary infrastructure isn’t installed. As babies, wild animals may be harmless but as they grow up (in captivity), they are likely to become dangerous for everyone around them.

As the recent incident of a lioness escaping from her cage at a private breeding farm in Ganda Singhwala, Kasur district, showed us, the lives of hundreds of locals were put at risk. According to reports, the lioness hid herself in an adjacent poultry farm. A Rescue 1122 team, together with veterinary experts, was called in only to return unsuccessful, apparently because they were without the necessary equipment — tranquillising darts and injections etc. Later, the district Wildlife Department reached out to the Lahore Zoo Safari Park for help.

The nearby villages were struck by horror. Regular announcements were made on mosque loudspeakers, requesting the people to stay indoors. Life came to a halt, literally, till the lioness was tranquillised and put back in her cage.

Syed Tahir Hamdani, the director general of Wildlife and Forestry Department, Punjab, says that all varieties of big cats are classified as exotic animals (instead of dangerous animals). “[Because of this,] anyone can keep these [animals] at home and we can’t even check their presence in a crowded residential locality or a farmhouse, for that matter.”

He also talks of “an entire black market of exotic animals. Animal farmers secretly breed big cats, wolves, foxes and the like, which are sold across the country at high prices and also smuggled out.

“We are watchful of and have arrested many animal smugglers in the past. This is a continuous process.”

Sources privy to the information reveal that many varieties of birds, especially parrots, are routinely smuggled into the country through various means. These animals and birds are packed in different kinds of bottles and boxes and a good number of them die during the journey.

“Wild animals evolved their nature over the course of millions of years as independent and free-living beings. They have needs, instincts and behaviours that are inseparably tied to their appropriate habitats. A permanently captive, wild animal remains in confusion and stress as it is constantly trying to reconcile its instinctual urges with foreign surroundings.” — Prof Shehzad Ahmed

Stories about wild animals kept as pets attacking and injuring people, often fatally, frequently make it to the news. As Shehzad Ahmed, a retired professor of zoology, puts it, “Physical injury is only one of the risks involved [in keeping a wild animal as a pet]. Many wild animals carry zoonotic diseases [illnesses that can be transferred from animals to humans]. These include brucellosis, salmonella and ringworm.

“These animals also often carry parasites that can be transmitted to humans or other pets.”

According to Prof Ahmed, “Wild animals evolved their nature over the course of millions of years as independent and free-living beings. They have needs, instincts and behaviours that are inseparably tied to appropriate habitats.” He therefore warns against “such adventures.” “A permanently captive, wild animal remains in confusion and stress as it is constantly trying to reconcile its instinctual urges with foreign surroundings.”

The Wildlife DG seconds Prof Ahmed, saying that exotic animals should not be kept as pets because of their inherent risks to human health and safety. However, he insists that the department has proper equipment and infrastructure to meet any untoward situation. “In most cases, the department has successfully tranquillised and caught dangerous animals kept by private persons.”

He says most animal farms breed a variety of parrots, deer and other animals all of which can be domesticated. “But when a wild animal grows up, it can become deadly and unpredictable.”

He also mentions a proposal to amend the categories of animals in the law. “Soon private people will not be allowed to keep dangerous animals, especially big cats, in cages.”

The writer is a senior reporter at The News