Police Shoot Escaped Tiger After Attack in Germany

On May 18, 2026, police in Germany shot and killed a tiger that had escaped from an enclosure. The tiger had attacked a 72-year-old man who had authorization to be in the enclosure. The incident occurred in an industrial park in Schkeuditz, located northwest of Leipzig, as reported by CBS News and its partner network BBC News.

The tiger was tracked down by armed police to a nearby garden. Due to the busy area and immediate danger to the public, the police decided to shoot the animal without waiting for a veterinarian, according to local media outlet MDR.

The enclosure is owned by Carmen Zander, who refers to herself as Germany’s “Tiger Queen” and is a former circus tiger trainer. It is reported that Zander did not have the necessary animal welfare permit for keeping big cats as of last year, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The tiger was one of eight housed at the site.

A local rescue center has offered to take in the remaining tigers. An emergency call was placed around 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday. The police cited eliminating further risk to the public as the reason for shooting the tiger once located.

PETA representative Peter Höffken called the incident a “tragedy waiting to happen,” stating that the group had previously informed local authorities about the conditions under which the tigers were kept.

PETA claimed that the tigers were confined to cramped, barren cages and did not have a living environment appropriate for their species. Carmen Zander has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Local mayor Thomas Druskat expressed concerns about the enclosure, stating, “It’s unthinkable what might have happened if other people had been injured.”

Zander’s website advertises “exclusive tiger petting events” where individuals can interact with her Bengal tigers. She describes these encounters as an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream, allowing people to stand next to the massive animals.