Man Walks Endangered Albino Siberian Tiger Cub In Park

Story ByAna LacasaSub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyCentral European News 

These images show the moment a Mexican man walks an endangered albino Siberian tiger cub around a park on a lead before the animal was seized by the authorities.

The man, whose name was not revealed, was snapped walking the albino Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in Vicente Guerrero park in the municipality of Matehuala in the state of San Luis Potosi, central Mexico.

Picture Credit: CEN

The Secretary of Public Security’s office confirmed that the cub had been seized after the photos were taken, saying in a statement “after an albino Siberian tiger cub was detected walking around in public areas in Matehuala, the animal was seized following the orders of the Federal Prosecution of Environment Protection (Profepa), which will take care of the animal”.

The authorities confirmed that the man with the cub did not have the correct permits to own the animal which showed no signs of abuse or malnourishment.

Picture Credit: CEN/@sspslp

The tiger reportedly has a genetic condition causing its white fur and tigers with the condition are usually larger than normal specimens. It is unclear if the man with the tiger has been arrested.

It is unclear where the tiger will be housed.

The Siberian tiger is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List and studies have shown there was a total population of 562 wild Siberian tigers in Russia in 2015.

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