Teen killed by lioness during TikTok shoot at Lahore farmhouse; TikToker, owner held

A 19-year-old man died in Lahore, Pakistan, while a TikTok video was being made. The incident took place at a farmhouse in the Kahna area of Lahore. It has again raised questions over the dangerous use of wild animals in the race for likes and views.

According to information received, Noman Hasan, a TikToker known for making videos with dangerous stunts involving wild animals, had gone to the farmhouse on the day to shoot a video for his social media account. To add thrill to the video, a lioness kept in a cage was let out.

Talha, 19, who worked at the same farmhouse, was also present. As the shoot was under way, the lioness went out of control and suddenly attacked Talha, who was seriously injured. He was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment.

Talha's father and his brother Hashim were also at the farmhouse at the time of the attack. Both worked there. It is said that after the incident, the farmhouse owners and others concerned tried to hush up the matter and mislead the police. Police and local people were initially falsely told that Talha had died of an infection from a dog bite.

However, Lahore Police took the matter seriously and began a detailed investigation. When forensic and medical evidence was collected, the truth emerged. The wounds on Talha's body were not from a dog but from the claws and teeth of a ferocious lioness. Lahore Police said in strong words: "No TikTok hobby or fame can be bigger than a human life or a precious life."

Kahna police acted immediately and arrested three people. They include the farmhouse owner, Fayyaz alias Faizi, and the main accused, TikToker Noman Hasan. A search of the farmhouse found that its wildlife breeding licence had expired in 2025, yet several wild and ferocious animals were being kept there illegally.

Police seized 33 lions from the farmhouse, which were being kept in highly unsuitable and dangerous conditions. The lioness that carried out the attack has been handed over to the Punjab Wildlife Department. On a complaint from the deceased Talha's father, police registered a case under the Wildlife Act, and a detailed investigation is on.

Noman Hasan is a TikToker based in Lahore. He is notorious on social media for making videos with stunts involving dangerous animals such as lions, tigers and leopards. Many of his older videos are still on the internet. A video of his went viral a few months ago in which he put his hand into the mouth of a live tiger. He had written in the caption: "My tiger Rocky is very friendly and calm." Even then, many experts and his followers advised him not to do such a deadly thing, but he did not listen to anyone.

This is not the first action against Noman. In 2024, the Punjab Wildlife Department took major action against him. He had made a video of walking a live tiger on a chain on public roads and in crowded places, which caused considerable controversy. The department then took legal action, seized his tiger and also issued a court challan. The administration had given him a stern warning that parading ferocious animals in human settlements or for entertainment is a legal offence.

Following the incident, there is anger among people on social media, and demands for the strictest action against such stuntmen are growing louder.