TikTok star Rija Bhat sentenced to community service for keeping lion cub

TikTok personality Rajab Butt has received his sentenced for keeping a lion cub.

A wildlife officer had filed a complaint with a local Judicial Magistrate in Lahore, against Butt, who had admitted to keeping the cub in violation of the laws.

The social media personailty was arrested from his residence in Lahore after a raid conducted jointly by the Punjab Wildlife Department and police lasrt month.

The authorities took action when a video surfaced showing Butt receiving a newborn lion cub as a wedding gift, raising concerns over illegal possession of wildlife.

According to the court’s decision, Rajab Butt will be required to provide community service under the supervision of a probation officer for one year. As part of his service, Butt will create vlogs discussing animal rights.

These vlogs will be uploaded monthly after receiving approval from the probation officer, focusing on animal protection and rights.

The court also instructed the Wildlife Department to provide Rajab Butt with all materials related to animal protection.

It was further emphasised that Butt must attend hearings if summoned by the probation officer. If the court’s directives are not followed, a report will be presented to the court.

In a statement, Rajab Butt acknowledged his mistake, saying, “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 authorized 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.”

Cub to permanently reside at  Lahore Safari Zoo

The court also ruled that the African lion cub, which was seized from TikToker Rajab Butt, will now permanently belong to the Punjab Wildlife Department and be housed at the Lahore Safari Zoo.

Tariq Janjua, the director of Lahore Safari Zoo, confirmed to Express News that the cub was originally recovered from Rajab Butt last month.

Butt had claimed the cub was a gift he received at his wedding. Initially, a local court had granted temporary custody of the cub to the Punjab Wildlife Department, and it was transferred to the Lahore Safari Zoo.

However, after further proceedings, the court issued a final ruling, confirming the cub’s permanent ownership by the wildlife department. The cub has been named “Bhatti” by the zoo administration.

Janjua explained that the plaintiff in the case failed to present sufficient evidence to claim ownership of the cub. Although Umar Dola attempted to assert ownership, the public prosecutor informed the court that the cub had been seized from Rajab Butt, making Butt responsible for proving ownership. As a result, the documents presented by Dola were rejected by the court.

Janjua further elaborated on the care being provided to the cub at the Lahore Safari Zoo. Currently, the cub is being fed through a bottle, with plans to introduce meat and minced food in the coming days. The zoo is also supported by a team of veterinary experts who are focused on the cub’s health and growth.

He also mentioned that 15 lion cubs had been raised through hand-feeding at the zoo, some of which are now aged between two and four years. This method is typically used when a mother lion is unable or unwilling to nurse her cubs.

Janjua issued a stern warning to citizens about the dangers of attempting to keep lions or other wild animals as pets. He emphasized that lions are wild creatures and cannot be domesticated, pointing out that keeping them in a home environment is not only dangerous to humans but also constitutes cruelty to the animals.

He added that keeping wild animals away from their natural habitat is a form of abuse and is subject to legal action. He urged the public to allow wild animals to live in their natural environments rather than attempting to imprison them