In the town of Schkönditz near Leipzig, a tiger escaped from captivity after attacking a man who was caring for it. The predator was later shot by the police.
According to law enforcement, the victim is a 73-year-old man who was helping to care for the animal. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, the publication reports.
The tiger escaped into the gardens surrounding the building where it was kept. It managed to get away approximately 300 meters and was outside for no more than half an hour before being shot by the police who arrived at the scene. No other tiger escaped.
Bild reports that the owner of the killed tiger was the famous trainer Carmen Zander, also known by the nickname "Tiger Queen." She keeps ten wild cats in cramped conditions in an industrial area, and since 2022, she has been prohibited from exhibiting her animals for commercial purposes. Authorities are demanding that she provide living conditions for them similar to those of tigers in zoos or wildlife parks. However, the area where they are kept is insufficient for this.
Recently, Zander appeared in court for violating the ban on performing with animals. According to her, she violated it for financial reasons, as just the food for them costs her 4,500 euros a month. Additionally, at the beginning of 2025, six more tiger cubs were born.
Mayor of Schkönditz, Raik Bergner, responded to a relevant inquiry from the Leipziger Volkszeitung by saying: "The tigers need to be removed (from there — Ed.). With three exclamation marks. A solution must be found now; the authorities must regulate this," reports Deutsche Welle.
