In the Santa Margarita neighborhood of the municipality of Zapopan, neighbors were surprised to see a man walking a Bengal tiger on a leash. It was through the emergency number 911 that the Zapopan police received the report of a feline walking at the intersection of Santa Rosa and Santa Mónica. The agents quickly moved to the location and found the man with the tiger, just as witnesses had described.
The seven-month-old Bengal tiger, one meter in length, was secured on-site. The man showed the officers documents issued by the National Service for Health, Safety, and Quality in Agrofood, which authorized the land or maritime transport of the animal, but not for walking it on the street.
In light of this situation, the police requested the intervention of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Zapopan to safeguard the tiger and transport it to the Villa Fantasía Zoo, where the corresponding evaluations regarding the legality of the feline's ownership would take place. Authorities informed the State Prosecutor's Office to initiate the necessary investigations.
In the words of local authorities: "It is important to remember that illegal trafficking of exotic animals is prohibited and can involve legal consequences. In this case, a thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the origin and legal status of the Bengal tiger."
