ATHENS (HRNW) – Greek veterinarians are fighting to save a white tiger cub abandoned in a rubbish bin at an Athens zoo, believed to be a victim of the illegal wildlife trade.
The three-month old white tiger was found on Feb. 28 under a garbage bin in the parking lot of the Attica Zoological Park by a cleaner, who notified the zoo owner.
“It is the first time ever we had such an animal dumped outside our zoo,” said zoo founder Jean-Jacques Lesueur. “I mean we had a number of cases of animals dumped, but usually these are abandoned pets – puppies, kittens, tortoises … but a tiger? Never.”
The zoo’s security camera video shows a vehicle driving up to the bins before midnight the previous night. Authorities were trying to trace the licence plates, said Lesueur.
The animal, which was thin and dehydrated, is in a serious condition.
“When I first saw the cub, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in front of me, I honestly couldn’t believe that an animal was in such a state,” said zoo veterinarian Noi Psaroudaki. “She was probably fed an improper diet, and she is severely deficient in vitamins and minerals, and this makes her bones extremely fragile.”