Punjab bans taking selfies, making TikTok videos with wild animals and birds

In this regard, a notification issued by the provincial wildlife department said that the registration of breeding farms is aimed at increasing the breeding of rare wild animals and birds but for some time now animals, birds and special lions have been used for snobbish purposes and pictures then circulate on social media.

The notification said that taking lions or other wild animals in public for making pictures, videos or exhibitions is not only tantamount to endangering the safety of the people but also unkindness to animals and is also a violation of the enacted act.

It further said that all farms owners should be stopped from taking out wild animals and birds unnecessarily otherwise the license would be revoked.

According to the notification, action will be taken against the violators under sections 289 and 337H (2) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

If convicted under these provisions, the accused could face a fine of Rs300,000 and imprisonment for up to six months.

On the issue, District Wildlife Officer Lahore Tanveer Janjua said that on the direction of DG Wildlife, the Deputy Director Headquarters has issued notices to the owners of all breeding farms in Punjab including Lahore.

He said that no one would be allowed to take wild animals and birds out of the farms for making advertisements, selfies, TikTok videos.

Tanveer Janjua said dangerous wildlife and bird keepers in homes outside the breeding farm would also be monitored.

He said the Punjab Wildlife Department made the decision in the wake of a pet lion attack on a 10-year-old boy in Karachi and the growing trend of taking pictures and videos with animals and birds on social media.

It may be recalled that a video of a 10-year-old boy being injured in an alleged 'pet' tiger attack in the Gulberg area of Karachi went viral on social media recently after which the authorities took notice of the incident.

SP Gulberg Muhammad Azhar Khan Mughal had said that on May 14 in Gulberg Block 11, a pet lion suddenly attacked the child.

The accused were later arrested by the police.

Police said that during the preliminary investigation, Aslam had told that his brother Osama had brought a lion to the house and it suddenly attacked the child after which he took lion bach to the farm house.