A Bengal tiger that had escaped from a zoo in Mexico was safely captured after nearly a week on the loose. Reynosa city officials confirmed that the 220-pound tiger was caught in the city of Los Longoria, across from Granjeño, Texas. The joint efforts of the Environmental Directorate and Civil Protection and Firefighters Reynosa helped set a trap to capture the feline without causing any injuries. Authorities had placed three cages in the area where the tiger was sighted to safely complete the capture without harming other animals in the vicinity. The Quinta La Fauna zoo had reported the tiger missing on Sept. 4, and after an extensive search, the tiger was finally captured.
Various social media posts reported sightings of the tiger near Mission, Texas, over the weekend, but none were confirmed by law enforcement. Officials were concerned that the tiger might swim across the Rio Grande and enter the U.S., as tigers are capable swimmers and the river is relatively narrow at that location. However, reports indicated that the tiger never crossed the border and remained in Mexico. To ensure the safety of the animal, the tiger will be transferred from Quinta La Fauna Zoo to the Tamatán Zoo in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. Tamatán Zoo has the appropriate facilities and personnel to protect the tiger and prevent any further escapes.
The escape of the Bengal tiger had caused concern among residents and authorities, as the animal had been reported to attack other nearby animals while on the loose. The tiger had managed to destroy the mesh on its cage, allowing it to escape and roam freely for nearly a week. After being captured, the city officials expressed relief that the situation was resolved without any injuries to humans or the tiger. The collaboration between government agencies and zoo officials helped in the capture of the tiger, ending the weeklong ordeal.
Tigers are known for their swimming abilities, and reports suggested that the captured tiger did not attempt to cross the border into the U.S. The Rio Grande river, which serves as a natural border between Mexico and the U.S., is only about 50 yards across at the location where the tiger escaped. Despite concerns about the tiger potentially swimming across the river, it remained in Mexico until its capture. The transfer of the tiger to Tamatán Zoo will ensure that the animal is kept in a secure environment and prevent any future escape attempts.
The escape of the Bengal tiger had prompted a significant search effort to locate and capture the animal before it posed a threat to residents or other animals. Authorities placed cages in the area of the tiger’s sightings to safely capture the animal without causing harm to any other wildlife. There were reports of attacks on nearby animals by the tiger while it was loose, further highlighting the need for its prompt capture. The successful capture of the tiger brought relief to residents and officials in the region, ensuring the safety of the animal and the community.
The collaboration between the Environmental Directorate, Civil Protection and Firefighters Reynosa, and other government agencies played a crucial role in the capture of the escaped Bengal tiger. The joint efforts helped set a trap that led to the safe capture of the 220-pound feline without causing any injuries. Following the capture, the tiger will be transferred to Tamatán Zoo in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, where it will be housed in appropriate facilities under the care of trained personnel. The successful resolution of the situation demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated efforts in addressing wildlife escape incidents and ensuring the safety of both animals and humans.
