An escaped tiger that attacked a keeper and fled its private enclosure was shot dead by German police in Leipzig. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 17, when the tiger, an adult male believed to belong to renowned trainer Carmen Zander, injured a 72-year-old man and escaped its enclosure on the outskirts of the city.
The Escape and Response
The tiger was on the loose for less than 30 minutes before being shot dead by police in a nearby garden, according to Bild. The injured man was taken to a hospital for treatment; the extent of his injuries remains unknown.
Owner's Reaction
Ms. Zander, 52, known as Germany's "Tiger Queen," was seen crying on the roof of her car, "visibly shocked" after her pet's death, Bild reported. She had settled in Dolzig, an industrial estate, after performing with her big cats across Europe. No other animals escaped.
Community Outrage
The incident has sparked outrage in the local community and renewed debate over the ethics of keeping dangerous wild animals as pets. Residents told DPA news agency the event was "terrible and worrying," with one witness claiming the animals were kept in "far too cramped conditions." Ms. Zander has denied any mistreatment of her big cats.
Mayor's Condemnation
Dolzig Mayor Thomas Druskat condemned the incident, calling for the animals to be moved, as reported by Leipziger Volkszeitung. "The enclosure has to go," he said, adding it was "unthinkable what might have happened if other people had been injured."
Animal Rights Concerns
Animal rights charity PETA told DPA that stricter regulations are needed to protect privately-owned animals. Last year, the charity unsuccessfully sued Ms. Zander to have the big cats removed from the enclosure. A PETA spokesperson stated: "The tigers are confined in the smallest possible space in their home territory, in barren wire cages and deprived of everything that would constitute a species-appropriate tiger life."
