A tiger was shot dead by its handler after escaping from a Paris circus, police said
ADVERTISEMENTA tiger was shot dead by its handler after escaping from a circus in Paris’ 15th arrondissement on Friday evening, said AFP.
#tigre ? échappé d’un cirque à Paris 15 : tout danger est écarté. Ne relayez de fausses informations.
— Préfecture de police (@prefpolice) November 24, 2017
The 200 kilos animal was taken down by three bullets near the Carlo Sarrabezolles square, reported Le Parisien.
A tram line was briefly closed while the feline was at large.
Le trafic est interrompu sur l’ensemble de la ligne T3a en raison de la présence d’un tigre, propriété d’un cirque situé a proximité. #RATP#T3a
— T3a RATP (@T3a_RATP) November 24, 2017
A police investigation into the tiger’s escape was opened and the owner was taken into custody said the AFP, citing a police source.
Valerian Fuet, a spokesman for the firefighters, told the AFP that the owner “was in shock” and that “when they arrived the tiger was already dead.”
Fuet added that the tiger was killed in an alley where there were no passers-by.
The mayor of the 15th arrondissement, Philippe Goujon, told Le Parisien that he was concerned about the circus’ security measures.
“What worries me is that the security measures allowed a tiger to escape in the middle of Paris and cross the boulevard des Marechaux”.
Animal rights NGO, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, denounced the conditions of animals in circuses after learning of the tiger’s death.
La Fondation Brigitte Bardot appelle
N_Hulot</a> à interdire l'exploitation des animaux dans les cirques comme l'ont déjà fait 13 Etats membres de l'UE (Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Croatie, Chypre, Grèce, Irlande, Italie, Lettonie, Malte, Pays-Bas, Roumanie, Slovénie) <a href="https://t.co/V8P3JzHAjH">pic.twitter.com/V8P3JzHAjH</a></p>— FONDATION B. BARDOT (FBB_PORTEPAROLE) November 24, 2017