Loose tiger causes traffic nightmare on Qatar highway

A loose tiger cub gave commuting motorists quite the scare on the Doha Expressway in Qatar on Tuesday as the frightened and confused cat wandered through traffic.

Video and photos of the tiger were shared on Twitter, which even resurrected an old Twitter account, @DohaTiger. 

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In a few shots the tiger can been seen with a collar around its neck that is attached to a chain, indicating that the big cat is presumably a pet.

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One clip shared by Al-Watan Qatar shows a man retrieving the cat from underneath someone's vehicle. The man was uncomfortable on camera, and the person filming the rescue ensured that he would not share the video on social media. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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DohaNews.co reports that the Ministry of Interior tweeted about the incident, assuring that the authorities were informed and taking action. 

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A translated version of the tweet from Doha News states reads: "We assure everyone that the authorities are following what has been circulating (on social media) regarding a tiger being seen in specific areas of the country." 

The account later tweeted that the situation was under control. 

Keeping a big cat such as a tiger is illegal in Qatar, but it is not uncommon for people to keep exotic animals as a status symbol. 

According to Al Jazeera, getting caught with such an animal can lead to 6 months in prison and a fine ranging from $275 to $2,750. 

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