SPIRIT ANIMAL

Athens zoo fights to save tiger cub found in garbage

MARCH 17, 2023

A white tiger cub that was abandoned outside the Attica Zoological Park and is believed to be a victim of illegal wildlife trade, drinks water at the zoo's infirmary, in Athens, Greece, on March 17, 2023.

Reuters

ATHENS — Greek veterinarians are fighting to save a white tiger cub abandoned in a rubbish bin at an Athens zoo, believed to be a victim of the illegal wildlife trade.

The three-month old white tiger was found on Feb 28 under a garbage bin in the parking lot of the Attica Zoological Park by a cleaner, who notified the zoo owner.

"It is the first time ever we had such an animal dumped outside our zoo," said zoo founder Jean-Jacques Lesueur. "I mean we had a number of cases of animals dumped, but usually these are abandoned pets — puppies, kittens, tortoises... but a tiger? Never."

The zoo's security camera video shows a vehicle driving up to the bins before midnight the previous night. Authorities were trying to trace the licence plates, said Lesueur.

The animal, which was thin and dehydrated, is in a serious condition.

"When I first saw the cub, I couldn't believe what I was seeing in front of me, I honestly couldn't believe that an animal was in such a state," said zoo veterinarian Noi Psaroudaki. "She was probably fed an improper diet, and she is severely deficient in vitamins and minerals, and this makes her bones extremely fragile."

X-rays also showed a metal pin has been placed in one of the cub's back legs.

Lesueur said if the tiger survives it will have to be relocated to a sanctuary, as the zoo has no other animals of its kind. International wildlife and animal welfare organisations have already contacted the zoo to help, he said.

The zoo's head keeper for cats, Andrea Cerny, said due to their size, diet and aggressiveness, tigers were difficult to care for.

Veterinarian anaesthesiologist Stylianos Mantzios, 35, checks a white tiger cub that was abandoned outside the Attica Zoological Park and is believed to be a victim of illegal wildlife trade, before a CT scan at a clinic in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2023. 
PHOTO: Reuters

"A tiger definitely cannot be a pet. It is a very dangerous animal, with a very big killing instinct," said Cerny. "Most of these pet tigers are going to be abandoned or killed."

Wildlife trade in Europe is a billion euro business, according to Europol, and Asia and Africa are common origins of exotic animals being sold to European buyers.

A white tiger cub that was abandoned outside the Attica Zoological Park and is believed to be a victim of illegal wildlife trade, prepares for a CT scan at a clinic in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2023.
PHOTO: Reuters

"We know that animals enter Greece illegally — snakes, tigers, like this one, it is not the first time a tiger has entered," said Maria Ganoti, head of Greek wildlife rescue association ANIMA, which has often cared for wild animals that have been abandoned, such as snakes and crocodiles.

"These usually come from entry points like Turkey, or Cyprus, but Greece has started to become an entry gate for the rest of Europe."

 

White tiger cub abandoned in Athens rubbish bin goes for CT scan

If the tiger survives, it will have to be relocated to a sanctuary

A veterinarian checks the white tiger cub before a scan at a clinic in Athens, Greece. Reuters

Simon Rushton

Mar 17, 2023

Beta V.1.0 - Powered by automated translation

Greek veterinarians are fighting to save a white tiger cub abandoned in a rubbish bin at an Athens zoo.

The three-month old white tiger, who was found thin and dehydrated on February 28, is believed to be a victim of the illegal wildlife trade.

“It is the first time ever we had such an animal dumped outside our zoo,” said zoo founder Jean-Jacques Lesueur.

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“I mean we had a number of cases of animals dumped, but usually these are abandoned pets — puppies, kittens, tortoises … but a tiger? Never.”

A team of veterinary surgeons helped with the cub's check-up and CT scan earlier this week.

“When I first saw the cub, I couldn't believe what I was seeing in front of me. I honestly couldn't believe that an animal was in such a state,” said wildlife veterinary surgeon Arsinoi Psaroudaki.

The cub was abandoned outside the Attica Zoological Park. Reuters

“She was probably fed an improper diet, and she is severely deficient in vitamins and minerals, and this makes her bones extremely fragile.”

X-rays also showed a metal pin has been placed in one of the cub's back legs.

Mr Lesueur said if the tiger survives, it will have to be relocated to a sanctuary, as the zoo has no other animals of its kind. International wildlife and animal welfare organisations have already contacted the zoo to help, he said.

The zoo's head keeper for cats, Andrea Cerny, said due to their size, diet and aggressiveness, tigers were difficult to care for.

X-rays also showed a metal pin has been placed in one of the cub's back legs. Reuters

“A tiger definitely cannot be a pet. It is a very dangerous animal, with a very big killing instinct,” she said. “Most of these pet tigers are going to be abandoned or killed.”

The tiger was left under a rubbish bin in the car park at Attica Zoological Park by a cleaner, who notified the zoo owner.

The zoo's security camera video shows a vehicle driving up to the bins before midnight the previous night. Authorities were trying to trace the licence plates, said Mr Lesueur.

The wildlife trade in Europe is a billion-euro business, according to Europol, and Asia and Africa are common origins of exotic animals sold to European buyers.

Ioannis Panopoulos, veterinarian anaesthesiologist George Polyzois, and zoo and wildlife veterinarian Arsinoi Psaroudaki. Reuters

“We know that animals enter Greece illegally — snakes, tigers, like this one, it is not the first time a tiger has entered,” said Maria Ganoti, head of Greek wildlife rescue association Anima, which has often cared for wild animals that have been abandoned.

“These usually come from entry points like Turkey, or Cyprus, but Greece has started to become an entry gate for the rest of Europe.”

Updated: March 17, 2023, 4:52 p.m.