• A pet lion escaped its enclosure in Lahore, attacking a woman and two children.
• All three victims were hospitalized but sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
• Police arrested three individuals connected to the incident within 12 hours.
• The lion has been confiscated and is in good health at a wildlife sanctuary.
• The case prompted discussions on regulations for owning exotic animals in Pakistan.

An escaped pet lion chased a woman and two children down a busy street in Lahore, Pakistan, on Thursday night. CCTV footage shows the lion leaping over the barrier of its home and pouncing on the woman, knocking her to the ground, before turning its attention to the children aged five and seven, injuring them as well. All three victims were taken to the hospital, but their conditions were not critical, according to SCMP, Dawn, and CBS News.

Eyewitness reports indicated that the lion's owners seemed amused during the attack. The police managed to arrest three suspects within 12 hours, who initially fled with the lion after the incident. The authorities have since confiscated the 11-month-old male lion, transferring it to a wildlife park where it was reported to be in good health, according to India Times and Dawn.

This alarming event highlights the ongoing issue of exotic animal ownership in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, where possessing such animals is often regarded as a status symbol. Recent laws enacted following a similar incident in December 2024 now require owners to obtain licenses to keep big cats, which must not be housed in residential areas. Breeders are subject to substantial registration fees, and animal farms must occupy a minimum of 10 acres, as reported by SCMP, CBS News, and India Times.