Authorities in Reynosa, Mexico, have successfully captured a Bengal tiger that had been on the loose for nearly a week after escaping from the Quinta La Fauna zoo.
Reynosa Mayor Carlos Peña Ortiz announced that the 220-pound tiger was caught overnight Tuesday in the city of Los Longoria, a Mexican border community across from Granjeño, Texas.
“The feline was caught without injuries thanks to the joint work of the Environmental Directorate and [] who set a trap last night,” Peña Ortiz said on Facebook.
Officials stated that after an extensive search and various attacks reported on other nearby animals, they placed three cages in the area of the tiger’s sighting to complete the capture without causing harm to any animals.
Several government agencies had been collaborating with the Quinta La Fauna zoo, which reported the tiger’s escape on Sept. 4.
The city reported that zoo officials discovered the tiger missing from its cage around 8:30 that morning, and the mesh on the cage was destroyed,
Over the weekend, several social media posts reported sightings of the tiger north of the border, especially near Mission, Texas. However, none were confirmed by law enforcement, according to Border Report.
had been concerned the tiger might swim across the Rio Grande and cross the border into the U.S.
Tigers can swim up to seven miles per day, and the Rio Grande is only about 50 yards across at that location. However, reports indicate the tiger never left Mexico.
“The Quinta La Fauna Zoo, in Reynosa, can no longer protect the specimen that escaped from its facilities, so it will be transferred to the Tamatán Zoo, in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas,” city officials said.
City officials added that Tamatán has the appropriate facilities and personnel to protect the animal.