Punjab Cabinet Approves Legalizing Ownership of Big Cats with Licensing Fee

The Punjab Cabinet has granted legal permission to keep lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas, and jaguars. A licensing fee of 50,000 rupees has been set for each animal. The decision was made in a meeting where the Forestry Department’s four-point agenda and the inclusion of big cats in the Wildlife Act were approved. For the first time, regulations have been established to govern the keeping of these wild animals. The Wildlife Department will now issue licenses to keep these animals, with a minimum standard of care also set. These animals can only be kept outside city limits, and a timeframe will be given for their transfer. Violations will lead to the registration of an FIR. The amended Punjab Forest Transit Rules will also establish checkpoints at key locations, and forest officers will have the authority to close depots and impose fines for violations.