Lion escapes into heavy traffic in Pakistani city of Karachi

The escaped lion made its way into the basement of a nearby building after roaming on the road for some time

A lion that escaped from a private vehicle amidst heavy traffic is captured in this video screengrab, in Karachi, Pakistan, Aug 29, 2023. REUTERS

An adultlionescaped from a private vehicle amidstheavytrafficin the southernPakistanicityofKarachion Tuesday, causing panic for two hours before it was recaptured, police said.

Thelionwas being transported by its owner when it escaped on the main road of the bustling portcityduring peaktraffichours, the police statement said.

"Our teams rushed here immediately. Praise be to Allah, it is with us safely and no one is in danger now," Wildlife Inspector Mukhtyar Soomro told Reuters at the site of thelion's capture.

The escapedlionhad made its way into the basement of a nearby building after roaming on the road for some time.

The area saw a massivetrafficjam with media vehicles arriving at the scene to cover the incident and crowds gathering to try to catch a glimpse of the escapedlion, a Reuters witness said.

The Wildlife Department said thelionhad been taken to its compound, as keepinglions in residential areas was banned.

"The owner of thelionhas been detained and a case will be registered against him," Senior Superintendent of Police Shiraz Nazir said in a statement.

Keeping wild cats as pets is not uncommon in Pakistan, where wealthy businessmen have been known to operate private zoos and sometimes parade the animals for the public.

In 2017, police in Pakistan arrested a man who took his petlionfor a night-time drive through the streets ofKarachi.

Visuals of thelionwent viral on social media, with users expressing alarm, but many others seeing the lighter side of the incident.

"Lionis taking stroll comfortably inKarachias if he knows there is the law of the jungle here," one user on messaging platform X posted, referring to thecity's high street crime rate.