A 19-year-old Pakistani teenager has been mauled to death by a big cat during a TikTok video shoot at a private farmhouse in Lahore, prompting the arrest of a social media influencer and the property owner.
The victim, identified as Talha, was working at a wildlife breeding farmhouse in the Kahna area when the animal attacked him during preparations for a social media video.
According to police, TikTok influencer Nouman Hassan had visited the farmhouse to record content involving the animal, which reportedly became uncontrollable and attacked the teenager.
Talha suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a private hospital, where he later died while receiving treatment.
Police subsequently arrested Hassan and the farmhouse owner, identified as Fayyaz, in connection with the incident.
Investigators also uncovered an alleged attempt to conceal the circumstances of the teenager’s death by claiming that his injuries had been caused by a dog attack.
However, police investigations established that he had been attacked by a large wild cat.
The animal was subsequently taken into custody by the Punjab Wildlife Department.
Authorities are investigating whether the farmhouse had valid permits to keep the animal and whether adequate safety measures were in place.
Police are also examining possible negligence and the alleged attempt to cover up the incident.
Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Operations Faisal Kamran said human lives could not be put at risk for entertainment or social media content.
A criminal case has been registered, while the teenager’s body was sent for a post-mortem examination.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the use of dangerous wild animals in social media videos and the safety of workers at private wildlife facilities in Pakistan. (Newswire)
