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The Lahore Safari Zoo has decided against selling 12 members of its expanding pride of lions to private buyers and has instead decided to construct additional enclosures to house them.

The prior date for the auction was Thursday, August 11.

In a notification shared with ProPakistani, the zoo"s deputy director for wildlife claimed that "the open sale about surplus stock of African lions scheduled to be held at 11.08.2022 is been cancelled till further orders."

The WWF had opposed the planned sale of the animals on Thursday and urged the Lahore Safari Zoo"s managers to find the animals new homes at other governmental wildlife facilities. The UK chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had also published a harsh statement on the subject.

"The fundamental reason behind the auction was the shortage of room," Janjua said, adding that the administration has chosen to hasten the building of two new lion enclosures.

The auction is no longer necessary because this problem will shortly be rectified.

Janjua added that demonstrations by proponents of animal rights were not the reason the sale was called off.

He said, "If the lions reproduce more, and we notice we are once again running out of space, then we can easily arrange another sale."
In a nation known for disregarding animal welfare, the 200-acre Lahore Safari Zoo is recognised as one of the greatest. There are currently 29 lions, six tigers, and two jaguars living there.

Each of the lions had been given a price tag of Rs. 150,000 ($700), which is equal to the price of a cow, but the officials had planned to sell them altogether for close to Rs. 2 million.