Karachi, Pakistan – In a shocking incident that recently surfaced online, a privately-owned pet lion attacked a woman and several children in public before being subdued while unleashed on a busy thoroughfare in Defence Housing Authority Phase-8 of Karachi. With the incident striking a public nerve, it has garnered attention for demanding stronger regulations on the ownership of exotic pets. The lion is said to have escaped from its owner, Shamsul Hadi, while he was being driven around in a car. Within minutes, the gigantic beast was set loose on the intersection, leading to instant chaos. Vehicles skidded to a halt, and panic-stricken pedestrians rushed to get as far away from the perplexed animal as possible. Bystanders were able to film parts of the commotion, which showed the lion attempting to bite at people, injuring a woman and at least two children in the process.Terror on the Streets: Escaped Pet Lion Attacks Pedestrians in Karachi, Sparks City-Wide PanicFollowing frantic attempts, both local and professional, wildlife officials had to step in. The lion not only escaped capture for days, but he also created pandemonium for commuters stuck in dense traffic. After a significant effort and lots of coordination, the wildlife department was able to corner, tranquilize, and effectively capture the massive creature which required extensive resources. The lion was then brought to the Karachi Zoo, where he underwent a thorough examination and was kept in temporary housing. Authorities lost no time in apprehending Shamsul Hadi, the owner of the lion, and have since placed multiple charges on him such as reckless endangerment and animal keeping violations. According to officials from the wildlife department, it is possible to obtain licenses for exotic pets in Pakistan, but moving them through the public safely requires a special kind of permit which is hard to come by. Officials further claimed that possessing wild animals such as lions in houses is strictly prohibited, unless the government grants full permission while providing secure enclosures.This bear attack highlights, in a most visceral way, the potential peril that comes with having wild animals as pets in civilized regions. Beyond the immediate concern for public safety, keeping majestic animals has captive conditions comes with other sufferring welfare issues. Community members along with animal rights advocates joined together to demand change, not only in the particualar incident, but in the law regulations to safeguard against the potential of such terrifying and avoidable situations.
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