According to a zoo official, as reported by The Express Tribune, the lion was suffering from multiple diseases including tuberculosis (TB). An autopsy confirmed that the rare cat had died of pneumonia which caused its lungs to stop functioning.

In the same report, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) spokesperson Ali Hassan Sajid said that the animal was ill for the last 13 days. It was receiving treatment from veterinarians but couldn’t recover and died.

Sajid added that the lion was 14 to 15 years old, and it was brought to Pakistan from Africa in 2012.

Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab has taken notice of the incident and sought a report of the animal's death, “strict disciplinary action will be taken against the zoo management of any negligence is found after the cause of the lion’s death comes to light.”

A social media user shared an image of the dead lion on Twitter, which resulted in outraged.

It even led to calls to abolish zoos in Pakistan altogether.

Others called for research to ensure the animals are provided proper care and nutrition.

Some users demanded the government to take action against the mistreatment of animals at zoos.

The news of the lion’s death comes a day after a video of the same lion, visibly emaciated and in pain, went viral on social media. The widely-circulated video was accompanied with claims that food supply to animals at the zoo had been stopped due to lack of payment by the KMC.

The KMC spokesperon had rejected the reports, which also included claims by a contractor who said that food supply was onyl restored after they were assured of payment.

As per the KMC spokeserson, the zoo had enough food supply to feed the animals for a week.

The Twitter account of the KMC also tweeted a video of the food stock available at the zoo.