A runaway tiger believed to belong to Germany’s ‘tiger queen’ has been shot dead by police after attacking one of its keepers.
Police told the BBC that a 72-year-old man was seriously injured after being attacked on Sunday while inside the animal’s enclosure, located at a private facility on the outskirts of the German city of Leipzig.
The tiger escaped from the enclosure and was found shortly after by armed police, who shot the animal dead.
The enclosure site is believed to be owned by controversial trainer and private owner Carmen Zander, who describes herself as Germany’s “tiger queen”.
The animal was one of eight felines kept at the industrial site near the German town of Schkeuditz, according to local media.
In a statement to the BBC, police said officers shot the animal, a male tiger, to eliminate any further risk to the public.
He added that the local police department received the emergency call on Sunday at around 12:50 p.m. local time (11:50 a.m. BST), and officers quickly arrived at the scene.
A spokesperson said how the tiger escaped was part of an ongoing investigation.
No other animals escaped from the site and police have planned a drone search to ensure the site is completely secure.
District Mayor Thomas Druskat called for the other animals to be moved and told local media it was “unthinkable” what could have happened if anyone else had been injured.
Nearby residents told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) that the incident was “terrible and worrying”, with one saying the animals were not kept in suitable conditions.
Animal rights group Peta called on the government to act, telling DPA that stricter rules needed to be put in place to protect privately owned animals.
According to a website using Zander’s name and nickname, the trainer hosts “unforgettable” and “one-of-a-kind” tiger-petting events open to the public.
The website says visitors can pay to pet the “250kg powerhouses” at a site near Leipzig.
Another section of the site features photos of eight tigers – three that appear to have died in the last nine years. The tigers include Kiara, 190 kg, Aschanti, 20, and Imana, 2.
Social media posts appearing to come from the trainer show several photos of the tigers playing in the enclosures.
It also states that the tigers are cared for and kept healthy in an animal-friendly environment.
The BBC has contacted Zander for comment.