Teenager mauled to death by tiger during stunt at private farm

A 19-year-old farm worker has been killed after a tiger attacked him during the filming of a TikTok video at a private property.

The young man, identified as Talha, suffered critical injuries when the animal was released from its cage so that a social media influencer could record content at the farm.

Talha was transported to a private hospital following the mauling, but succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

His remains were subsequently transferred to a morgue where a post-mortem examination is due to take place.

The fatal incident occurred in Kahna, a town within Pakistan's Lahore region.

Police have made two arrests and launched an investigation into what authorities describe as an attempt to conceal the true circumstances of the teenager's death.

Lahore police have taken into custody the farm's owner, identified as Fayyaz, along with a social media personality known as Norman.

Authorities allege that Norman had requested that the tigress be let out of its enclosure specifically for the purpose of filming social media content.

The animal had been kept at a breeding facility located on the property.

During the recording session, the tiger became uncontrollable and turned on Talha, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Following the attack, those involved allegedly sought to disguise what had happened by claiming the teenager's injuries were inflicted "by a dog" rather than a big cat.

Police have described this as a deliberate effort to hide the truth surrounding the young worker's death.

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A formal case has been registered in connection with the incident.

Officers are continuing to examine whether the farm held valid permits to keep the tigress and whether adequate safety measures were in place at the time of the attack.

The animal has since been transferred to the custody of wildlife department officials.

Lahore Police issued a pointed rebuke of the reckless pursuit of online fame, stating: "A passion for TikTok cannot be more important than a human life. No one can be allowed to put human life at risk in the name of hobby or entertainment.

"The attempt to hide the facts and every aspect of negligence will be investigated."

The force confirmed on social media that inquiries into the ownership permit, safety protocols and potential negligence remain ongoing alongside the registered criminal case.

Some reports from Pakistani sources have raised the possibility that the animal involved may have been a lion rather than a tiger.

However, initial local accounts and police statements consistently referred to the creature as a tiger.