'My Lion Was Sick,' Says Man Filmed Taking Big Cat Out For A Drive

A man in Pakistan was filmed driving around Karachi with his "pet" lion casually hanging out in the back of his pickup truck. Mobile phone footage, recorded by a stunned commuter, shows the big cat slumped over the side of the vehicle. The bizarre footage quickly went viral and led to the eventual arrest of the man on Wednesday. He was charged with public harassment.

The video was reportedly recorded in Karachi's Karimabad area earlier this week. A shocked woman, filming the incident, can be heard asking who will take responsibility if the big cat attacks commuters and wondering whether the animal is an endangered breed.

The big cat can be seen reclining in the bed of the truck, seemingly unfazed by the heavy traffic inching through a chaotic street. Pedestrians making their way through the cars stumble into clawing ranging but the lion - which is wearing a collar and a leash held by a man in the vehicle - just yawns, exposing its sharp teeth. 

Watch the viral video here:



The clip has been viewed over one million times on Facebook, where people criticised the owner for cruelty and suggested he was showing off his wealth.

According to local media reports, a number of concerned citizens brought the viral video to the attention of a local politician. It was only then that a man identified as Saqlain Jawaid, a local pet dealer, was arrested. It's unclear what happened to the lion. 

He claims he was taking the animal to the vet and had all the required permits and documentation. 

"I have all documents, including the licence. The video is four days old. My lion was sick and I took him to the doctor...and was returning home," he was reported telling journalists. 

Geo TV confirmed that while the man did obtain a license from the Government of Sindh's Wildlife Department that enabled him to possess a "private mini zoo," it had expired in 2016 and, therefore, action would be taken in the case. 

(With inputs from AFP)Click for more trending news