Police and veterinary officials arrived this morning for a major operation at a private tiger facility in Dölzig near Leipzig. The goal is to ensure that official orders are now carried out, said Thomas Seidler, spokesperson for the North Saxony District Office, which has jurisdiction over the matter. A tiger had escaped from the facility owned by a former circus performer in mid-May. A 72-year-old assistant was seriously injured in the incident. The animal was shot and killed by police.
The district administration had ordered the trainer to improve the living conditions for the tigers. A deadline had been set for this, which has now expired. Seidler said that details on exactly what measures the authorities took at the facility would be announced once the operation is complete.
The authorities are requiring the owner to comply with the guidelines of a so-called mammal assessment report. According to this report, an outdoor enclosure of at least 200 square meters must be available for one to two tigers, with an additional 100 square meters required for each additional adult animal. According to the authorities, eight animals were still living at the facility after the tiger was shot.
