Doha’s Runaway Tiger Is Actually an Artist in a Malayalam Movie

Maybe all the tiger needed was fresh air.

The tiger that escaped from the van it was being transported in. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screengrab)

Everyone was freaking out that a tiger was running wild on the busy expressway of Al Rayyan in Doha. In reality, it wasn’t running, but was taking a stroll on a busy Doha Expressway, because it was tired of being in the truck that was transporting it.

The Indian Express reports that this tiger is in fact a runaway artist from a Malayalam movie called Marubhumiyile Aana (Elephant of the Desert), which is currently being filmed in Qatar.

The movie starring Biju Menon, also features the tiger. Menon is scripted to make a dramatic entrance holding the tiger on a leash.

The tiger was being transported in a caged truck to the location when the allegedly domesticated big cat escaped and took to the busy expressway. The viral video shows his handler pet it and pull it off the road.

Once the video went viral, Qatar police identified the vehicle that was transporting the tiger and detained them. They were allegedly released only upon paying a hefty fine, reported the Malayalam Manorama.