Lahore Farmhouse Lioness Kills Worker; Two Arrested
The Lahore farmhouse lioness killed a 19-year-old worker in the Kahna area on Thursday, and police have arrested the farmhouse owner and a TikToker who was filming at the scene. The animal has been taken away by the wildlife department.
The victim, Talha, worked at the farmhouse. Police said TikToker Nauman had visited the farmhouse to make a TikTok video when the lioness went out of control and attacked him. Talha was taken to a private hospital, where he died during treatment.
A spokesperson for the office of the deputy inspector general of police identified the arrested men as farmhouse owner Fayyaz and TikToker Nauman. A case has been registered against them.
Lahore farmhouse lioness attack was first reported as a dog attack
Police said an attempt had been made to hide what happened by describing the incident as a dog attack. An inquiry established that the victim had been attacked by a lioness.
The animal was confiscated by the wildlife department. The victim’s body was taken to a morgue for a postmortem examination.
Police are also checking whether the farmhouse held a valid permit to keep the lioness, and whether safety arrangements were in place. DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said every aspect of the case, including the attempt to conceal the facts and any possible negligence, would be investigated.
He said human life could not be put at risk in the name of entertainment or personal interests. Making TikTok videos could not take precedence over human life, he said.
Private wild animals raise safety questions
The case has put the spotlight on the private keeping of wild animals in Pakistan. Big cats are sometimes kept at farmhouses and private residences, often for display or social media content. The law requires permits and proper safety arrangements, but enforcement is uneven.
Punjab’s wildlife authorities have acted before when wild animals were kept or handled in unsafe conditions. This is not the first time a pet lion has caused trouble in Lahore. In July 2025, a lion escaped from a farmhouse in Johar Town and attacked a woman and her two children, aged five and seven, in an alleyway. The animal had been kept without a licence. Its owner was arrested, and the Punjab government launched a province-wide crackdown that seized 18 lions and raided 38 breeding farms. Under the rules, a lion can only be kept with a licence, in a proper cage, outside city limits, with breaches punishable by up to seven years in prison. Wildlife officials shot a monkey during a rescue at Islamabad airport. Punjab has also seen other wildlife cases, including nine rare vultures in Rajanpur and a stray-dog crackdown in south Punjab.
The Kahna case will test whether those rules are applied to a private farmhouse. The key questions for the police inquiry are simple: did the farmhouse hold a permit, were safety measures in place, and who decided to film with the animal?
For now, the lioness is in the custody of the wildlife department, and the two arrested men face a police case. The postmortem will form part of the record as the investigation continues.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at the Lahore farmhouse?
A pet lioness attacked 19-year-old farmhouse worker Talha in the Kahna area on Thursday while a TikToker was filming. Talha died in hospital during treatment.
Who has been arrested?
Police arrested farmhouse owner Fayyaz and TikToker Nauman. A case has been registered against them.
What happened to the lioness?
The wildlife department confiscated the animal. Police are checking whether the farmhouse had a valid permit to keep it.
Was the incident reported correctly at first?
No. Police said an attempt was made to describe it as a dog attack, but an inquiry established that the victim had been attacked by a lioness.
