Nine lions and two giraffes euthanised at Lahore Safari Park over untreatable illnesses

As many as nine lions and two giraffes suffering from incurable health conditions were euthanised (humanely put to death to prevent prolonged suffering) at Lahore’s Safari Park, the Punjab government confirmed on Thursday. The decision follows veterinary assessments that found the animals’ illnesses were irreversible and untreatable.

The Safari Park, one of Pakistan’s largest wildlife facilities spanning hundreds of acres, houses roughly 30 to 40 lions, while the giraffe pair had been imported from South Africa in October 2025 as part of efforts to expand its collection of exotic animals .

Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the ailing lions were referred from various zoos across the province on the advice of veterinary doctors. “Some of them had incurable hereditary diseases. Others were suffering from irreversible conditions for which no effective treatment was possible,” she said in an official statement. A committee comprising veterinary doctors and wildlife experts examined each case before the action was taken.

Mudassar Hassan, Additional Chief at the Punjab Wildlife Department, noted that more than a dozen lions had been unwell for several weeks, with some developing disabilities. He added that the administration is stepping up monitoring and care to prevent further animal deaths at the Safari Park, particularly among the remaining giraffes. A separate committee has been formed to investigate the matter fully.

The euthanised giraffes were part of a group of 12 imported from South Africa, nine for the Safari Park and three for the Lahore Zoo, all of which had completed their quarantine period late last year. There have been concerns in the past about giraffe health in captivity at Lahore facilities, with several deaths reported over previous years due to illness and adaptation challenges.

The decision reflects a broader policy in Punjab, where wildlife authorities have recently authorised humane euthanasia for seriously ill and incurable lions across government zoos to end their prolonged suffering, following reviews by the Punjab Captive Wildlife Management Committee .

Such measures are generally guided by wildlife and zoo regulations in Pakistan and internationally, aiming to balance animal welfare with ethical care standards. In neighboring countries such as India, similar steps are sometimes taken when captive animals, including big cats, elephants, or giraffes, develop severe genetic or chronic conditions that cannot be treated effectively.