The director of the Mykolaiv Zoo explained how the tiger cub escaped and where it was found

A four-month-old Amur tiger that escaped from an enclosure at the Mykolaiv Zoo managed to get out through a gap between the metal bars near the ceiling of the quarantine facility. The animal was found only around 10:00 p.m. with the help of a thermal imager and a volunteer. She is currently safe.

This was reported by zoo director Volodymyr Topchiy, according to Suspilne Mykolaiv.

According to the zoo director, the two tiger cubs spent three days in the quarantine enclosure. However, one of them found a small gap between the metal bars and managed to escape.

“They spent three days in that enclosure. She found a gap—a small opening near the ceiling—not even a hole, but a gap between the bars,” Topchiy said.

They searched forthe tigress on the zoo grounds. Finally, around 10:00 p.m., a volunteer used a thermal imager to help locate the animal. She was sedated and returned to the enclosure.

The tigress is doing well now: she is eating, playing, and spending time with the other cub. The zoo has already begun making improvements to the enclosure from which she escaped.

Once the quarantine period is over, zoo staff plan to decide how to move both cubs to a larger enclosure.

“Because she’s very cunning,” noted the zoo director.

Андрій Колісніченко