Lions sold out by Safari park Lahore without open auctioning

Some months ago, 18 lions were gifted from UAE and price of them was shown Rs40 million.

Lahore (Web Desk) – The management of Safari Park has sold 14 African lions without proper auctioning. The management when talked opined that the lions had been sold because of lack of financial resources.

There is a difficulty in arranging food for the animals and birds as the government keeps extending the lockdown because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The park’s management stated that the number of lions in Safari Park was very high due to which they were sold.

The African lions have been sold for Rs2.1 million.

Punjab Wildlife Department officials said the number of lions had increased substantially over the past few years in Lahore Safari Park and their mortality rate had dropped due to their better care. That is why a large number of lions have been sold. The initiative aims to involve private breeders in the sector so that wildlife can be promoted in the province.

Punjab Wildlife Director Mohammad Naeem Bhatti said 12 of the lions sold were suffering from partial disability. “Someone had problems with paws and others with bones,” he said. The administration was forced to sell them due to disabilities.

Another reason for the auction was that there was no place for breeding the animals in the zoo as tigers and lions have been brought from the United Arab Emirates.

“Moreover, we have run out of resources, 90 per cent of the expenditures are made on the food of lions,” he said.