Tiger that escaped from zoo near US-Mexico border a week ago is captured

Amaris Encinas and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY

Updated September 12, 2024 at 8:44 a.m.·2 min read

A tiger has been found alive and well a week after the feline escaped from a Mexico zoo near the Texas border and put residents in the area on edge.

The Reynosa Department of Public Safety took to Facebook on Tuesday to confirm that the male Bengal tiger named Tony has been captured in Los Longoria, Mexico, after it escaped from Quinta La Fauna Zoo in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

Tony, who could have posed a threat to the surrounding community, was "sheltered and delivered" to the corresponding federal authorities after a multi-agency effort, the public safety department wrote in the post.

"We are grateful to citizens for staying alert and for following security protocols."

Runaway tiger found in 'good health,' sent to another zoo

A male Bengal tiger escaped the Quinta La Fauna zoo in border city Reynosa, Tamaulipas on Wednesday raising concerns that cat could have entered Texas.

Tony appeared to be unaffected by its week in the wild and appeared to be in "good health" when he was found in a trap set near Quinta La Fauna Zoo, according to KRGV-TV. Tony was taken to another zoo in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas, KRGV-TV reported.

A federal environmental agency in Mexico took custody of the big cat, which will not return to the zoo where he had been housed, KRGV reported.

According to KRGV-TV, Quinta La Fauna will be inspected by the city's environmental safety department to identify if any city ordinance violations have taken place in connection with the escaped tiger.

Reynosa's Department of Public Safety had shared a photograph of the tiger but did not explain how the animal escaped the zoo, which has been closed since Sept. 4, USA TODAY reported.

Posted by Quinta La Fauna - Reynosa, Tamps. on Wednesday, September 4, 2024

The zoo had yet to announce a reopening date or update its social media account.

Tiger captured after failed attempts

The at-large tiger had been spotted, but efforts to shoot Tony with a neutralizing dart were unsuccessful, the the public safety department wrote Saturday on Facebook.

Reynosa Environmental Protection Director Aarón de la Cruz told KRGV-TV that's because the tiger ran off and hid between trees.

Tony has killed nearby hens and piglets while leaving a trail of paw prints for crews to track, according to Houston outlet Chron.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Runaway tiger captured after escape from zoo near Texas-Mexico border

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Runaway tiger found in 'good health,' sent to another zoo

Tiger captured after failed attempts

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