The white tiger, part of the election campaign of Maryam Nawaz, leader of the Pakistan m**m League Nawaz (PML-N), died during a rally in Lahore on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
Ever since the start of election season, live tigers and lions are a constant feature at PML-N political rallies. The party leaders daughter, Mariam Nawaz, in particular enjoys the attention the white tiger brings to her rallies.
But the show stopper tiger is no more alive.
Sources confirmed to Dawn.com that the rare tiger was brought unconscious to the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore on Tuesday evening. The vets there tried to revive the animal but to no avail. The animal died this morning.
According to WWF, white tigers are endangered and are extremely sensitive to heat and noise. With temperatures in Lahore soaring past thirty degrees Celsius and there being nothing but noise at the political rallies, the tiger could not survive.
WWF has also confirmed that famed actor and conservationist Faryal Gohar is going to file a petition with the Lahore High Court against the illegal use of wildlife animals at rallies and other such activities. WWF is supporting the petition.
The tiger belonged to a party worker who boasted off his pet at Mariam Nawazs rallies. The animal can be seen in PML-N rallies across Punjab.