At Sherbagh Zoo in Bahawalpur, Punjab province, Pakistan, a shocking event unfolded on Thursday, December 7, 2023, when a man was found dead after being mauled to death by tigers. The victim, 28-year-old Muhammad Bilawal from Lahore, was discovered in the tiger enclosure during routine cleaning by the zoo staff.
It is believed that Bilawal, who had a history of addiction and disappearing from home, voluntarily entered the tiger den. The condition of his body and evidence at the scene suggest he was attacked while alive. In a particularly gruesome aspect of the incident, zoo staff noted a tiger holding a shoe, presumably belonging to Bilawal, and observed his heavily mauled legs.
As a result of this incident, Sherbagh Zoo has been temporarily closed for an in-depth investigation into how this security breach occurred and if there was any negligence on the part of the zoo staff. The tigers implicated in the attack have been relocated to a separate enclosure to aid in the investigation.
Muhammad Bilawal had a difficult past, and authorities are considering the possibility that he may have intentionally entered the tiger’s enclosure. Sherbagh Zoo, also known as Bahawalpur Zoo, is one of Pakistan’s largest zoos, featuring a range of animals, including tigers, in modern enclosures.
The focus of the ongoing investigation is to uncover how Bilawal gained access to the restricted area and to assess whether any security shortcomings or staff negligence contributed to this tragedy.
