After the incident with the tiger escape near Leipzig, the animal rights organization Peta has called for stricter rules for keeping dangerous wild animals.
May 18, 2026, 05:16May 18, 2026, 05:16
“In principle, the federal government must finally act now,” said Peter Höfgen, PETA specialist for wildlife, to the German Press Agency.
The German tiger tamer Carmen Zander and one of her animals. (archive image)Image: imago stock&people
The incident shows once again that keeping dangerous wild animals in private hands or in mobile operations is not sufficiently safe. Private keeping of tigers or lions is still permitted in several federal states. From Peta’s point of view, the legislation must therefore be tightened.
On Sunday, a tiger escaped from a private facility in Schkeuditz near Leipzig. A 73-year-old was seriously injured. The police later shot the animal in the area of a garden. According to the police, there was no longer any danger to the population. No other animals escaped.
According to Peta, poor housing conditions
In the Schkeuditz district of Dölzig, a tiger tamer keeps big cats in an industrial area. Eight tigers are said to still live there. The tamer did not initially respond to a dpa request. “The animals should have been confiscated long ago,” said Höfgen.
Since 2019, Peta has repeatedly pointed out to the Northern Saxony Veterinary Office what the organization believes are inadequate keeping conditions. Höfgen spoke of enclosures that were too small and unsafe as well as violations of animal welfare. According to the organization, a rescue center has been offering to take in the animals for a long time. (sda/dpa)