Carmen Zander tiger shot dead near Leipzig after 72-year-old attack
Police shot dead an escaped tiger near Leipzig on Sunday after it seriously injured a 72-year-old man inside an enclosure at a privately owned site linked to carmen zander. The tiger was found shortly after armed officers reached the industrial property on the outskirts of Schkeuditz.
Police received the emergency call at around 12:50 local time, then moved quickly to the scene. Officers shot the male tiger to eliminate any further risk to the public.
Schkeuditz enclosure under scrutiny
The enclosure site is believed to be owned by Carmen Zander, a controversial trainer and private owner who local media say is also known as Germany's “Tiger Queen.” The tiger was one of eight big cats kept at the site near Schkeuditz.
The incident leaves Carmen Zander's animal operation under immediate scrutiny. Police said how the tiger escaped is part of an ongoing investigation, and police planned a drone search to ensure the site is fully secure.
Thomas Druskat calls for relocation
District Mayor Thomas Druskat called for the other animals to be relocated, saying it was “unthinkable” what could have happened if anyone else had been harmed. The warning focused attention on the remaining animals at the industrial site rather than on the dead tiger alone.
Peta also urged the government to act, saying “stricter rules needed to be put in place to protect privately-owned animals.” A website using Zander's name says she offers “unforgettable” and “one-of-a-kind” tiger petting events open to the public near Leipzig, with visitors able to pay to pet the “250kg powerhouses.”
Police search continues
The site's public-facing image now sits against a far more immediate problem: one tiger escaped, one man was seriously injured, and armed police were sent in to kill the animal. Police said no other animals have escaped from the site.
The practical next step is the search and inspection of the enclosure by police drone, alongside the investigation into how the tiger got out. That process will determine how long the remaining big cats stay at the Schkeuditz site and whether the call to move them gains force.
