On the outskirts of Lahore, a muddy farmhouse gives off a strong animal scent — the first clue to what lies inside: 26 lions, tigers, and cubs owned by a man named Fayyaz, one of Pakistan’s most prominent private breeders of big cats.

Despite the rain and difficult conditions, Fayyaz insists the animals are content. “They eat when they see us… they’re not aggressive,” he says, moments before one lion roars. “That one is aggressive by nature,” he adds.

Fayyaz’s facility, believed to be the largest of its kind in private hands in Pakistan, has supplied lions and breeding pairs for over a decade. Big cats in Pakistan have long symbolized status and political loyalty — the tiger is the emblem of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. In recent years, social media has fueled a spike in exotic pet ownership, with lions even appearing at weddings.

But a recent incident where a pet lion attacked a woman and her two children on a public street has prompted authorities to act. Punjab’s government is enforcing new regulations: owners must register each animal for a one-time fee of 50,000 rupees (about $176) and are limited to 10 big cats from only two species. Facilities must also open to the public like a zoo. Penalties include fines up to 200,000 rupees and prison terms of up to seven years.

Wildlife officers are already conducting raids. In one case, they found five mud-covered lion cubs but no adult lions, suspecting the owners fled with them. The caretaker, just hired two weeks earlier, was taken in for questioning.

The cubs were transferred to Lahore Safari Zoo for medical checks. However, authorities believe this is only the beginning. “There could be hundreds or thousands of undeclared big cats in Punjab alone,” said Mubeen Ellahi, Director General of Wildlife & Parks. He estimates 30–40% of lions may not be reported.

Inbreeding is another concern. Poor genetic diversity has led to serious health issues, and officials are considering whether some animals may need to be euthanized.

Fayyaz now faces a three-month deadline to convert his farm into a proper zoo, though wildlife officials have already expressed concerns about the cramped cage conditions.

Animal welfare activists are demanding more: “We’ve been calling for sanctuaries, not zoos,” said Altamush Saeed. He advocates for greater transparency and tighter regulation of private ownership of wild animals.