Rare tiger cub kept in cage plunges 11 floors to its death after being frightened by Lunar New Year fireworks
Animal from endangered species kept illegally as a pet by a Chinese businessman on the rooftop of his home
A tiger cub kept by a businessman in eastern China on the roof of the 11-storey building where he lives fell to its death after it was frightened by Lunar New Year fireworks.
The owner said the seven-month-old cub, an endangered Manchurian tiger, had escaped from its cage and fallen, the Bandao Morning Post reported.
The animal’s body was found in the car park of the building in Pingdu in Shandong province at about midnight on Lunar New Year’s Eve, a time when revellers traditionally set off large numbers of fireworks in the street.
The owner adopted two tigers from a mountain park, the deputy head of the area’s forestry bureau Li Peijie was quoted as saying by the news website Iqilu.com.
Neither the owner nor the park had permits to care for the animals and they were acting illegally, the report said.
The owner probably faces a fine, said Li.
