Tiger That Escaped Farm Captured After Five Days... Eventually Euthanized

8-Year-Old Female Tiger Escapes from Private Farm in South Africa
One Man Injured... Dogs, Pigs, and Deer Killed

A tiger is eating food at the zoo. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] A tiger escaped from a private farm in South Africa and was captured after five days. Due to safety concerns, it was ultimately euthanized.

According to local daily The Citizen and Reuters on the 19th, an 8-year-old female tiger named 'Sheba' was found and shot dead early the previous morning in a residential area in Walkerville, on the southern outskirts of Johannesburg.

Sheba, who escaped from a private farm in Walkerville on the 13th, roamed nearby residential areas and farmland, attacking people and livestock before being captured. A 39-year-old man was injured in the leg by Sheba's attack, and two dogs, one pig, and one deer were reported killed.

For five days, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and the police conducted search operations using drones and helicopters. The police who captured Sheba explained that euthanasia was the only option due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, this incident has sparked controversy in South Africa over private ownership of exotic wild animals. In the case of predators like tigers, if they escape from enclosures as in this case, they can pose a threat to nearby residents and other animals. Furthermore, there are claims that keeping wild animals confined in enclosures is inherently unethical.

According to Reuters, in Gauteng Province, where Johannesburg is located, there is currently no requirement for permits to own or keep exotic wild animals such as tigers privately.

Keshvi Nair, spokesperson for the NSPCA, stated, "Tigers are not native to South Africa, but they are brought here and kept for human curiosity and profit." She added, "Wild animals should literally be in the wild," and pointed out, "When accidents happen, it is always the animals that pay the price."