Court orders Rajab Butt to create vlogs on animal rights as sentence for keeping lion cub

A local court in Lahore has sentenced popular vlogger Rajab Butt to community service after he admitted to illegally keeping a lion cub. The case was filed by a wildlife officer for violations of animal rights laws.

On Friday, the court ordered that Rajab Butt will perform community service under the supervision of a probation officer and create monthly vlogs for one year to raise awareness about animal rights.

The Punjab Wildlife Department will provide him with relevant material, and his probation officer must approve the content before it is uploaded to YouTube.

The court also directed Butt to comply with conditions, including attending hearings if summoned by the probation officer. In case of violations, a report will be submitted to the court.

In his statement, Rajab Butt admitted:

"I admit that the lion cub was found in my possession illegally. I was unaware that wild animals cannot be received as gifts. I now understand that it is inappropriate to keep wild animals under such circumstances. I regret my actions, and as a social media influencer, I should focus on creating positive content. I was not authorised to keep the cub, and I set a wrong example. Recognising my mistake, I will voluntarily offer community service through my social media platform and spread a positive message about the rights of wild animals. I leave myself at the mercy of the court."

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The court has ordered that the African lion cub, recovered from Butt, be permanently housed in Lahore’s Safari Zoo. The zoo administration has named the cub Bhatti.

Tariq Janjua, director of the Lahore Safari Zoo, stated that Butt and his friend, Mian Umar Dhola, failed to provide proof of ownership of the cub. He assured that the cub will be well cared for alongside 15 other lion cubs currently at the zoo.

Janjua further warned that keeping wild animals as pets poses significant risks to humans and is a form of animal cruelty.

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He stated that lions cannot be domesticated; they are wild animals that can endanger human lives and deserve to live in their natural habitats or proper facilities.

Rajab Butt, who recently made headlines for his extravagant wedding, was arrested on December 15 for illegally keeping the lion cub and possessing unlicensed weapons.

Private wildlife breeding farm owner Mian Umar Dhola, who gifted the cub to Butt, clarified that Butt’s arrest was unrelated to the display of the lion cub and instead stemmed from illegal weapons possession.