A TikTok video shoot in Pakistan ended in tragedy after a 19-year-old farm worker was mauled to death by a tigress brought out of its cage for a social media stunt. The incident took place at a private farmhouse in Kahna, a town on the outskirts of Lahore.
The victim, identified as Talha, was employed at the farmhouse, where the tigress was being kept at a breeding facility. The big cat was brought out of its enclosure at the request of TikTok content creator Nouman Hassan, who had arrived at the property to shoot a video.
Pakistani teenager MAULED TO DEATH by a tiger during filming of a TikTok video by an influencer at a farm in Lahore Content creator and farmhouse owner arrested https://t.co/Noupc350cZ
— RTBreaking (@RT_Breaking_) November 13, 2026
However, the situation quickly spiralled out of control when the tigress attacked Talha, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.
Following the incident, police arrested the farmhouse owner, identified as Fayyaz, and the content creator.
In a statement, Lahore Police said that the influencer had initially attempted to pass off the incident as a dog attack. However, subsequent investigation revealed that Talha had been mauled by the tigress.
The police confirmed that the animal had been handed over to the Wildlife Department and that an investigation was underway to establish whether the farmhouse had the requisite permission to keep the big cat and whether adequate safety measures were in place.
Issuing a strong warning against reckless social media stunts, Lahore Police said, “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 police added that the alleged attempt to conceal the actual circumstances of the incident, along with all aspects of negligence, would be investigated. A case was also being registered in connection with the death.
The influencer has a history of risky encounters with big cats
Hassan has previously posted videos featuring potentially dangerous interactions with big cats on social media.
In one video shared on his Instagram account, he was seen attempting to kiss a chained tiger. In another clip, he was seen petting a leopard when the animal suddenly lunged at him and scratched him.
The latest incident has once again raised questions about the reckless use of captive wild animals for social media content and the risks such stunts pose not just to the creators themselves but also to people working around these animals.
What may have been intended as another attention-grabbing TikTok video ended with a young man’s death. The investigation will now determine whether the tragedy was the result of inadequate safeguards, negligence or violations of wildlife regulations.
