A French couple was shocked to discover they had purchased a baby tiger instead of a Savannah cat.
In the shocking incident, the French couple was stunned after realizing days later that they had been sold a Sumatran tiger cub instead of a Savannah cat
A couple purchased a Savannah cat The couple, from Le Havre, Normandy, had spent 6,000 euros (£5,450) on what they believed was a Savannah cat.
They found the animal through an online ad. They agreed to a payment on delivery arrangement with the seller.
However, when the animal arrived in September 2018, they found it was not a Savannah cat, but a three-month-old Sumatran tiger.
The couple then reported the incident to the police.
Despite the obvious differences between a Savannah and a tiger, the couple didn’t realize the mistake for several days.
Once they did, they immediately contacted the authorities.
The Sumatran tiger is a protected species, and private ownership of such an animal is illegal under international wildlife treaties.
The police then investigated and arrested the criminal who was caught with the wild animal.
According to reports, while a Savannah cat is considered an acceptable pet, a tiger is not
Tigers are protected under the CITES treaty (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), meaning they cannot be transported without the proper paperwork.
Following the couple’s report, an investigation was launched.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with trafficking protected species. The couple, as well as others involved in the case, face charges related to organized crime.
The tiger, which had been in the Normandy region, was seen in several locations, including selfies in Elbeuf and even in a rap video filmed in Petit-Quevilly. It was later handed over to the French Biodiversity Office and eventually rehomed in a secret location.
A woman accidentally took in a baby fox, mistaking it for a lost kitten
In the similar incident, In a strange twist, a woman in California recently mistook a wild fox for a lost kitten.
She found the small animal outside and rescued it, only to realize it was a baby fox. The Rocklin Police Department shared the story on Facebook.
The post read: “A concerned family member called us after seeing the scared little guy and Animal Control responded”.
The incident showed how the woman had mistakenly picked up the baby fox, believing it was a kitten. Animal Control was called to assist, and the fox was transported to a wildlife rescue center.
The growing trend of wild animal mix-ups
This is part of a growing trend where people mistake wild animals for pets.
Earlier this year, a New England family brought home a coyote pup, thinking it was a lost puppy.
In another case in Texas, a woman called animal control for a baby fox she had rescued, assuming it was a puppy.
In all these cases, the animals were safely taken to wildlife rescue centers for care and treatment.
