A tiger that escaped from a private facility near Leipzig after attacking a person was shot dead by police, authorities said.
The animal belonged to trainer Carmen Zander, who keeps a group of big cats at an industrial site in the Schkeuditz/Dölzig area. Reports say she cares for about eight tigers; officials stated none of the other animals escaped.
Police said the tiger fled its enclosure at the private complex in Schkeuditz, west of Leipzig, and was killed by officers in nearby gardens. Local media reported it was at large for under 30 minutes.
A 73-year-old man who worked at the tiger facility was injured and taken to hospital with minor wounds. Neighbors and bystanders described being frightened by the incident.
A witness who said they knew the owner told reporters the animals were kept in “far too cramped conditions” with little space to roam.
Zander, sometimes called the “Tiger Queen,” trained big cats for shows across Europe before settling in Dölzig with her animals. She has faced legal scrutiny over the animals’ treatment, including investigations into an alleged tiger show held without proper approval by Leipzig state prosecutors.
Dölzig mayor Thomas Druskat criticized the situation and demanded the animals be removed from the site. He said the enclosure “has to go” and called for the tigers to be moved to more appropriate housing, warning of the danger had others been injured.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the escape and the conditions at the facility.