In a disturbing occurrence at Sherbagh Zoo in Bahawalpur, Punjab province, Pakistan, a man was fatally mauled by tigers. The incident happened on Thursday, December 7, 2023, and involved a man identified as 28-year-old Muhammad Bilawal from Lahore, Pakistan. Bilawal’s half-eaten body was found in the tiger den by zoo staff during a routine cleaning operation.

Bilawal, known to struggle with addiction and frequently absent from home, is thought to have entered the tiger enclosure intentionally. Authorities indicate that the state of his body and scene evidence suggest he was alive at the time of the attack. The tigers, which remained within their den, did not venture out to initiate the attack. Notably, a shoe believed to be Bilawal’s was found in one of the tiger’s mouths, and his legs were severely mauled.

Following the incident, Sherbagh Zoo has been temporarily closed, with officials commencing an extensive investigation into the breach of security and potential staff negligence. The tigers involved have been isolated to a different enclosure for evidence gathering purposes.

Bilawal’s troubled background, including his personal challenges, is under scrutiny, as officials consider the likelihood of his deliberate entry into the enclosure. 

Sherbagh Zoo, also known as Bahawalpur Zoo, ranks as the fourth largest in Pakistan and is home to various species, including lions, tigers, and hyenas, housed in contemporary facilities.The investigation aims to determine how Bilawal accessed the restricted area and whether any security lapses or negligence by the zoo staff played a role in this fatal event.