Loose tiger on the prowl in Doha
Photos and videos of the animal have been circulating widely on social media.
A tiger has been spotted running loose on a highway in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Okay … now this is abnormal situation … pic.twitter.com/Smv4rkzN6n
— محمد بن سعيد (@Swaiidz) March 8, 2016
Photos and videos of the animal walking on Doha Expressway have been circulated on Twitter and Instagram.
@Adel__Almalki @AlrayyanTV @alsharq_portal @Qatar_Weather #هروب #نمر على خط #الشمال في #قطر pic.twitter.com/Yk3IG5Fksx
— عادل بن علي الفراهيد المالكي (@Adel__Almalki) March 8, 2016
The videos show the tiger with a chain around its neck and it appears to be an escaped pet.
It has since been brought under control, according to regional website The Peninsula Qatar. It is not yet known where the tiger escaped from.
@dohanews
MoI hs taken necessary steps to avoid any unwanted incident and a team is following the matter. stay calm pic.twitter.com/OLx2Uyhaz7— Baladiya (@Baladiya1) March 8, 2016
It is illegal to keep wild animals as pets in Qatar as well as the United Arab Emirates, which is a member of the Convention on the Illegal Trade of Endangered Species.
However, it is not uncommon for locals to have tigers and cheetahs as pets, often as status symbol.
Despite repeated warnings from the authorities, the enforcement of these regulations is patchy, according to Doha News.
Under Qatari law, those found breaking the law could face a prison sentence of six months and a fine ranging from QR1,000 to QR10,000 ($275-$2,750).