Private reproduction facilities in cities are closed following the decision of the Punjab cabinet on January 16, 2025 prohibiting lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars in urban residential areas.
Until now, 27 large cats have been placed in the care of the fauna department.
Officials say that taking action is necessary for public security and animal welfare, in accordance with international standards.
The government should regulate and market the sector instead of imposing a general ban, have argued the farm owners.
“Breeders have not been consulted during policies development,” said Mian Umar Dola, a farm owner who has been reproducing large cats for 17 years and has operated an installation in the Lahore Sabzazar region.
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A lion remained in a cage in private facilities in Lahore before the ban on punjab on large cats in urban areas. Photo: Expression
“Keeping the lions in small houses or on the roofs is dangerous, but the owners with enough space and security measures should be authorized,” he said.
“Large carnivores can be accommodated in the heart of the city, so private farmers in strict conditions should also be authorized.”
“Despite two decades of big cat reproduction in Pakistan, no human victim has occurred,” said Dola.
LPG cylinders and dog bites kill people each year, but none is prohibited, he added.
According to him, Pakistan ranks second or third in the world in large cat farming, the country could generate foreign exchange through exports with government support.
Lionesses sometimes reject their cubs, forcing breeders to feed them by hand to ensure survival, he added.
Zoos also raise cubs on artificial milk and food, but it is treated as a crime when private breeders do the same, said the owner of the farm.
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He suggested that Cubs up to six months should legally be authorized in private care.
Additional Punjab Fauna Ranger Syed Kamran Bukhari said that the property and breeding of large wild animals must follow the standards of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza).
Based on these directives, the new policy requires that farms be registered only if they comply with land size standards, the dimensions of the speakers, the security protocols and must be outside of urban establishments.
Government zoos provide open enclosures, three-level safety facilities and veterinary facilities, almost impossible conditions for private facilities, he said.
Only the federal government has the power to allow animal exports, noted Bukhari.
Depending on Waza standards, large cat speakers must measure at least 12 feet high, or 16 feet if without roof with protective wiring or overhang.
A two -meter gap between animals and the public is compulsory, as well as shaded areas, scratching structures and interior shelters for weather conditions or extreme diseases.
Double area systems and qualified personnel are also necessary.
These measures are designed to ensure public security and preserve the natural behavior of animals.
Animal rights groups have also expressed concerns.
A lion remained in a cage in private facilities in Lahore before the ban on punjab on large cats in urban areas. Photo: Expression
“The confingation of lions and tigers to small cages causes physical and psychological damage,” said activist Aneeza Khan Umrzai.
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“Small reproductive farms do not provide adequate space or veterinary care, endangering animal survival.”
Organizations such as global protection of animals and Waza emphasize the conservation of natural habitats rather than promoting commercial captivity, said animal rights lawyer Izzat Fatima.
Lions and tigers born in captivity cannot be released in nature.
These facilities should be limited for research and schooling purposes.
The Punjab government maintains that its decision reflects security problems and compliance with international standards.
Breeders continue to call for regulated authorizations and animal welfare groups insist on strict limitations to protect large cats.
