Rare Pakistan tigress dies

By Shahid Malik
BBC correspondent in Lahore

A rare white tigress that became the first animal in Pakistan to undergo a CT scan less than a week ago has died in Lahore Zoo.

It is uncertain exactly how Brita died

Five-year-old Brita belonged to an endangered species of Bengal tiger, of which there are only 100 left in the world, zoo officials said.

The Pakistan-born tigress was taken to hospital earlier this month after suffering a series of "fits".

A team of three radiologists conducted the CT scan and ruled out the possibility of a brain tumour.

Zoo authorities in Lahore confirmed the death on Tuesday.

Further examination

Zoo director Raja Javed told the BBC on Wednesday a post mortem report showed a slight enlargement of her liver, while other vital organs appeared to show no signs of damage.

Experts at the Veterinary Research Institute in Lahore are now carrying out a further examination of Brita's brain to establish a definitive cause of death, he added.

Six other tigers belonging to the same rare white species are kept in Lahore Zoo.

The decision to use the CT scan at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore was taken after Brita showed no improvement with ordinary drugs.

Shaukat Khanum Hospital is a state-of-the-art medical facility for the treatment of cancer.

Princess Diana played a role in raising funds for the centre which was set up nine years ago by a trust headed by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

The hospital was also the target of a bomb attack in 1998.