Private breeding facilities in cities are shut down following the Punjab Cabinet’s January 16, 2025 Decision to ban lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars in urban areas.
So far, 27 large cats have been taken into custody by the Wildlife Department.
Officials say it is necessary to take action for public security and animal welfare in accordance with international standards.
The government should regulate and commercialize the sector instead of introducing a carpet ban, argued farm owners.
“Breeders were not consulted during decision -making,” said Mian Umar Dola, a farm owner who has bred large cats for 17 years and runs a facility in Lahores Sabzazarian.
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A lion stored in a cage at the private plant in Lahore before Punjab’s ban on large cats in urban areas. Photo: Express
“Keeping lions in small houses or roofs is unsafe, but owners with sufficient space and security measures should be allowed,” he said.
“Large predators can house in the heart of the city, so private breeders under strict conditions should also be allowed.”
“Despite two decades of large cat breeding in Pakistan, no human loss has occurred,” Dola claimed.
LPG cylinders and dog bites kill people every year, yet none of them are forbidden, he added.
According to him, Pakistan ranks second or third all over the world in Big Cat breeding, land could generate currency through exports with government support.
The lioness sometimes rejects their cubs and forces breeders to make them secure them to ensure survival, he added.
Zoos also breed cubs on artificial milk and food, but it is treated as crime when private breeders do the same, opinated the farm owner.
Read more: Punjab to ban sales and begin sterilizing privately owned large cats
He suggested that cubs up to six months old should be legally allowed in private care.
Punjab Further Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Kamran Bukhari said the ownership and breeding of large wild animals must follow the standards of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza).
Based on these guidelines, the new policy requires farms to be registered only if they meet soil size standards, enclosure dimensions, security protocols and must be outside the urban buildings.
Government’s zoos provide open encapsulations, three-layer security and veterinary facilities, conditions almost impossible for private facilities, he said.
Only the federal government has authority to allow animal exports, noticed Bukhari.
According to Waza standards, large cat encloses must be at least 12 meters high or 16 feet if roofless with protective wires or an overhang.
A two-meter gap between animal and public is mandatory along with shaded areas, scratching structures and indoor shelters for extreme weather or disease.
Double port systems and trained staff are also required.
These measures are designed to ensure public security and maintain the behavior of natural animals.
Animal rights groups have also expressed concern.
A lion stored in a cage at the private plant in Lahore before Punjab’s ban on large cats in urban areas. Photo: Express
“The inclusion of lions and tigers for small cages causes physical and psychological damage,” said activist Aneeza Khan Umrzai.
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“Small breeding holdings do not deliver sufficient space or veterinary care, which jeopardizes animals’ survival.”
Organizations such as world animal protection and Waza emphasize preserving natural habitats rather than promoting commercial captivity, Animal Rights Lawyer Izzat Fatima said.
Lions and tigers born in captivity cannot be released in nature.
These facilities must be limited to research and educational purposes.
The Punjab government maintains its decision reflects security concerns and compliance with international standards.
Breeders continue to call for regulated permits, and animal welfare groups insist on strict restrictions to protect large cats.
