A lioness has mauled a 19-year-old man to death after it was released from its cage for a TikTok video.
The big cat was let out on a private wildlife farm in the town of Kahna in Lahore, Pakistan, on Wednesday with the aim of filming social media content.
But once out of its cage the predator reportedly became erratic before it savagely attacked a farmhand, known only as Talha, in front of his family.
After the attack, the teenager was rushed to a private hospital where he later passed away from his injuries.
Police have since arrested the farm’s owner and the TikToker – known online as Nouman Hassan – who visited the site to film the deadly stunt.
A third individual was also arrested in connection to the incident.
Lahore Police said that a ‘passion for TikTok’ is not more important than putting a human life at risk ‘in the name of hobby or entertainment.’
The young man’s father and brother who both worked on the wildlife farm reportedly witnessed the fatal attack take place.
In a statement on X, the force said attempts were initially made to ‘conceal the truth’ behind the incident, claiming at first that it was a dog attack.
The TikToker with a tiger filmed during a previous dangerous stunt with big cats for social media
A picture appearing to show Talha the teenage farmhand who was attacked by the predator when it was released from its cage
A TikToker and a private farm owner were arrested by police after a 19-year-old farmhand was mauled to death by a big cat
A lioness reportedly mauled the young man known as Talha to death in front of his family
Police are now investigating the lioness’s ownership permit and whether the relevant safety arrangements were in place on the farm.
Following the attack, the animal was removed from the farm and handed to the wildlife authorities.
Under Punjab wildlife laws, it is illegal to remove a big cat from its cage or keep one outside a licensed facility in Lahore.
A Lahore Police spokesman said: ‘Kahna police have arrested the farm owner and a TikToker in connection with the death of a 19-year-old young man in a lioness attack at a farmhouse.
‘The lioness got out of control in the presence of the TikToker, who had come to the farmhouse to make a TikTok video, leaving a farm employee critically injured.
‘He later died while receiving treatment. An attempt was made to pass off the lioness attack as a dog attack to conceal the truth.
‘The attacking lioness has been handed over to wildlife authorities, while investigations continue into the lioness ownership permit, safety arrangements and possible negligence.
‘A case has been registered over the incident.’
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