LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has revealed the findings of the white tiger incident that took place at Jallo on Sunday in which the animal keeper left the cage door open and the tiger entered the park.

The report states that this incident was a result of negligence and a serious lapse in protocol on the part of animal keeper Sharif Masih. He had a history of misconduct with officers during his tenure at Lahore Zoo. In light of these findings, the report recommended that departmental proceedings be initiated against him in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

A probe committee was constituted under the convenership of Lahore Zoo Director Muhammad Zahid Iqbal. The committee members included Ghulam Rasool (deputy director, Wildlife Lahore Region) and Dr Muhammad Rizwan Khan (veterinary officer, Safari Zoo, Lahore). Upon receiving the orders, the committee immediately visited the site, accompanied by the assistant director of Jallo wildlife and assistant director of Lahore region.

Following the site visit, the committee recorded the statements of the staff stationed at the drive-in zoo section of Jallo Park and perused the record.

According to the committee’s findings, the incident could have resulted in a far more dangerous situation if the tiger had not been tranquilised by the quick and effective response of Jallo staff, supported by staff from Safari Zoo and Lahore Zoo. The veterinary team successfully tranquilized the tiger and safely returned it to its cage. Also, they administered an antidote, which helped the animal recover swiftly, thus preventing any potential harm. The staff’s prompt action in managing the situation is highly commendable and deserves recognition.

Upon reviewing the available records, it was noted that Aslam Javaid, the regular watcher for the section, was on leave for the day. His replacement, Usman Ali (wildlife watcher), was assigned from 10am to 6pm

On the morning of the incident, Mr Masih proceeded with cleaning the tiger’s enclosure and, in his negligence, left the front door open while shifting the tiger to the display area. This led to the tiger escaping from the cage and entering the open area of the drive-in zoo section.

After a thorough investigation and review of the facts, it was found that the incident primarily occurred due to the negligence of Mr Masih, who was assigned as the Animal Keeper for the section.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2025