In a shocking incident at Sherbagh Zoo in Bahawalpur, Punjab province, Pakistan, on Thursday, December 7, 2023, a man was found mauled to death by tigers.
The victim, identified as 28-year-old Muhammad Bilawal from Lahore, Pakistan, was discovered in the tiger den during a routine cleaning operation by zoo staff.
Bilawal, who struggled with addiction issues and had a history of disappearing from home, is believed to have jumped into the tiger enclosure. Officials suggested that the condition of his body and the scene’s evidence indicated he was alive when attacked.
The tigers, confined to their den, did not leave to initiate the attack. The gruesome nature of the incident was highlighted when one of the tigers was seen with a shoe in its mouth, believed to belong to Bilawal. His legs were heavily mauled, and the zoo staff was left horrified upon discovering his half-eaten body.
This incident has led to the zoo’s temporary closure, with authorities launching a thorough investigation into the security breach and potential negligence by the staff. The tigers involved have been moved to a separate enclosure to facilitate evidence collection.
Muhammad Bilawal, a resident of Lahore, had a troubled past. Officials are exploring the possibility that Bilawal, dealing with personal challenges, may have intentionally entered the enclosure.
Sherbagh Zoo, also known as Bahawalpur Zoo, is the fourth largest in Pakistan and houses various animals, including lions, tigers, and hyenas, in modern enclosures.
The focus of the investigation will be to ascertain how Bilawal accessed the restricted area and whether any lapses in security or staff negligence contributed to the tragedy.
