French couple paid ,000 for tiger cub they thought was Savannah cat

French couple paid $7,000 for tiger cub they thought was Savannah cat



No wonder they were purr-plexed. A couple in France thought they bought a special kitty — only to discover they had taken a tiger cub home, according to a report.

The unidentified couple from Le Havre told police they stumbled across an online ad two years ago for a Savannah cat, which is a cross between an exotic African serval and a domesticated feline, French outlet France Bleu reported.

They shelled out about $7,000 for the wild cat, which is legal to keep as a pet in the country, LADbible reported.

But the pair later suspected something was amiss with their new pet and learned they had purchased a Sumatran tiger, the outlet reported.

The big cat — which is native to Indonesia — is considered a critically endangered species with fewer than 400 of them roaming the globe, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

“In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face jail time and steep fines,” the wildlife group said.

“But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation — including strengthening law enforcement and antipoaching capacity — a substantial market remains in Sumatra and other parts of Asia for tiger parts and products.”

French authorities have arrested nine people Tuesday in connection with the tiger, which was traced to an animal trafficking operation, the outlet reported.

It’s unclear where the animal originally came from, but prior to being sold, it was used in a rap video, authorities said.

The tiger appeared to be in good health and has been turned over to the French Biodiversity Office, the outlet reported.

This article was first published by The New York Post on 8 October 2020. Lead Image: Getty Images.


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