Rajab Butt, a significant Pakistani YouTuber with over 5.6 million subscribers, has been mandated to produce twelve videos focused on animal welfare after the illegal acquisition of a lion cub.
Pakistani YouTuber Sentenced to Create Animal Welfare Content After Lion Cub Controversy
Pakistani YouTuber Sentenced to Create Animal Welfare Content After Lion Cub Controversy
A popular influencer in Pakistan faces a unique penalty for illegal wildlife ownership, emphasizing education over punishment.
In a curious turn of events, Rajab Butt, a prominent Pakistani YouTuber known as "Rajab's Family," has been ordered to produce a dozen animal welfare videos as a form of community service after facing legal repercussions for unlawfully owning a lion cub. This unusual sentence comes after Butt received the cub as a wedding gift from fellow YouTuber Umar Dolla, who operates a channel focused on lion-related content. Following the incident, authorities removed the cub from Butt's possession and relocated it to Lahore Safari Zoo, where it has been named Bhatti.
Under the order, Butt is required to create a five-minute educational video each month for the next year, aiming to educate his followers on the importance of animal rights and welfare. In a reflective statement, Butt expressed his regrets about the situation, acknowledging that keeping wild animals was inappropriate and he had set a bad example. He stated, “As a social media influencer, I should create positive content. I was not authorised to keep the lion cub."
The case saw legal complications as Dolla attempted to assert his ownership of the cub in court. However, the judge ruled in favor of Butt, highlighting the lion cub's removal from his custody due to improper ownership. Tariq Janjua, the director of Lahore Safari Zoo, emphasized that lions are not domesticated animals and their captivity can be both detrimental to their well-being and a potential danger to human safety.
As part of his community service, Butt aims to utilize his platform to raise awareness about wildlife rights, transforming his previous mistake into an opportunity for positive societal impact.
Under the order, Butt is required to create a five-minute educational video each month for the next year, aiming to educate his followers on the importance of animal rights and welfare. In a reflective statement, Butt expressed his regrets about the situation, acknowledging that keeping wild animals was inappropriate and he had set a bad example. He stated, “As a social media influencer, I should create positive content. I was not authorised to keep the lion cub."
The case saw legal complications as Dolla attempted to assert his ownership of the cub in court. However, the judge ruled in favor of Butt, highlighting the lion cub's removal from his custody due to improper ownership. Tariq Janjua, the director of Lahore Safari Zoo, emphasized that lions are not domesticated animals and their captivity can be both detrimental to their well-being and a potential danger to human safety.
As part of his community service, Butt aims to utilize his platform to raise awareness about wildlife rights, transforming his previous mistake into an opportunity for positive societal impact.
