A special judicial magistrate in Lahore has sentenced social media influencer Rajab Butt to one year of community service after he pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of a lion cub without the required permit or license.
According to court directives, Butt will fulfill his community service obligations by producing educational vlogs on animal rights during the first week of each month, starting from February 2025 until January 2026.
His arrest took place in December when the Chuhng police, in collaboration with the Punjab Wildlife Department, conducted a raid at his residence in a private housing society. During the operation, authorities not only seized the lion cub but also discovered unauthorized weapons on the premises.
Initially, Butt claimed that the cub was a wedding gift from a friend and denied breaching any wildlife laws. However, after being formally charged, he admitted to possessing the animal unlawfully.
The case highlights the ongoing crackdown on illegal wildlife trade and private ownership of exotic animals in Punjab. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws to curb such offenses in the future.
