TikToker, farm owner arrested after tiger kills 19-year-old employee in Lahore

LAHORE: A 19-year-old employee was killed in a tiger attack while a TikTok video was being filmed at a private wildlife breeding farm in Lahore’s Kahna area, police said on Thursday.

Police arrested TikToker Nauman Hassan and the farm owner, identified as Fayyaz, and registered a case against them over alleged negligence and failure to ensure safety at the facility.

The incident took place on Wednesday evening, when Hassan arrived at the farmhouse and called the employee, Taha, to film a video with his tiger, according to the first information report (FIR).

The animal was taken out of its cage for the recording but suddenly attacked Taha, the complainant said. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital in Hassan’s vehicle, where he later died.

Taha’s father, Munir Ahmed, lodged the complaint at Kahna police station. He said he worked at the farm with his sons, Taha and Hashim.

Munir Ahmed, Hashim and the complainant’s brother, Abdul Qayyum, witnessed the incident, according to the FIR.

The victim’s father alleged that Hassan had acted negligently by allowing the tiger to roam freely during filming. He also accused the farm owner of providing the premises without ensuring adequate safety arrangements.

Investigation underway

DIG Operations spokesperson Faisal Kamran said initial attempts were made to portray the incident as a dog attack. However, an investigation into the circumstances revealed that a tiger was responsible, he said.

Kamran said the tiger had been handed over to wildlife authorities, who were examining its permit and the safety arrangements at the facility.

He added that investigators would examine all aspects of the alleged negligence and any attempts to conceal the actual circumstances of the incident.