Resident after tiger drama: "Idyll was shattered"

One day after a tiger escaped in Schkeuditz near Leipzig, local residents are relieved. "Our idyll was shattered yesterday," says Silvia Kaempf. She has an allotment in the neighboring allotment garden association and had just arrived with her husband when she was informed by police officers that the predator had escaped.

"We were told to get in the car immediately and lock up," says the 68-year-old. She then saw police officers climb onto the roof of a car and shoot the tiger three times. The animal was only a few meters away from a small fence to the allotment garden. The all-clear was then given and they left their car. "In that situation, we were already excited and there was an inner tension." She now hopes that the remaining animals will end up in good hands.

It is unclear how many animals are still there

On Sunday, an adult tiger escaped from the private enclosure of a former circus performer in an industrial estate. A 72-year-old man was seriously injured. The police later shot the animal in a garden area. According to the police, there was no longer any danger to the public. No other animals escaped.

The following day, more adult tigers roamed their circus wagon. This is a truck trailer that is surrounded across its entire width by a fence secured with a grid. This allows the animals to get some fresh air. It is unclear how many are still there. The owner is unavailable for comment.

Rescue of the injured keeper under police protection

Under police protection, the rescue workers went into the enclosure and rescued the 72-year-old, according to Patrick Siebeck, head of operations at the Dölzig fire department. "We didn't know at the time whether there were any other animals on the loose." The injured man had suffered several bites and scratches and was immediately taken to hospital. In addition to several large fire department vehicles, a drone was also used to monitor the situation from the air.

Residents and neighbors, meanwhile, are relieved that the authorities are now being forced to take action against private tiger keeping. "Every morning, my employees checked from their cars to make sure everything was safe before they got out," says a business owner in the immediate vicinity. He himself had had nightmares for years.

The Leipzig public prosecutor's office has now opened an investigation into the case on suspicion of negligent bodily harm by omission. It is still unclear what will happen to the other animals.