Greek Zoo Rushes to Nurse Abandoned White Tiger Cub Back to Health
The cub is the latest victim of an illegal wildlife trade.
In Athens, Greece, veterinarians are running to the aid of a 4-month-old white tiger cub who was found abandoned in the garbage. Though details are still being ironed out, it appears that the cub is yet another victim of the illegal wildlife trade surrounding Greece.
A cleaner came across the animal beneath a trash bin at the Attica Zoological Park on February 28. The tiger was quickly handed off to veterinarians for further evaluation, which revealed the possible reason behind the cub's abandonment. According to The Straights Times, the tiger was 'thin and dehydrated,' and was 'in a serious condition.'
Reuters/The Straights Times
A later update explained that the tiger, who turned out to be a 4-month-old female, was likely dumped due to her poor health. She is paralyzed from the waist down and is fighting for her life.
As Attica Zoological Park founder Jean Jacques Lesueur told The Straights Times, "[She's] in terrible condition.” This is likely because of the illegal wildlife trade that brought her to the zoo in the first place. Not only is the white color of her fur "a genetic anomaly," according to the World Wildlife Fund, but it's also the result of inbreeding--which comes with a much higher risk of health problems at birth.
Zoo veterinarian Noi Psaroudaki said, "She was probably fed an improper diet, and she is severely deficient in vitamins and minerals, and this makes her bones extremely fragile.” The tiger cub also has a metal pin placed in one of her back legs--something that had been done before her abandonment.
Because of her critical condition, veterinarians and wildlife experts are weighing all of the best options for both the survival and comfort of the little one. As of now, she's still fighting for her life in Athens, though if she survives she will not be calling the Attica Zoological Park her home.
Andrea Cerny, the zoo's keeper for cats, told The Straights Times that tigers can be incredibly difficult to care for. That's why this cub would be going to a sanctuary if she's able to make a full recovery. She has so many animal lovers cheering for her already!
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