A severely overweight tiger, tipping the scales at 440 pounds (31.5 stone), has been placed on a strict diet after being freed from a tiny cage in Vietnam.
The tiger, likened to a real-life “Tiger Who Came to Tea,” was discovered during a police raid targeting wildlife traffickers.
After detaining the suspects, the police inspected various animals in cages and noticed that one tiger struggled to stand due to its excessive weight.
Recognizing the animal needed urgent care, the authorities contacted the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary, a local organization working in partnership with the international animal welfare group Four Paws.
Veterinarians from the sanctuary immediately responded, traveling six hours to Phu Tho province, where the tiger was being held.
Upon arrival on May 11, they were shocked that the tiger weighed 440 pounds—well above the typical range for tigers, generally between 140 and 364 pounds (10 to 26 stone).
Due to the intense heat, the journey back to the sanctuary required frequent stops to hydrate and check on the tiger.
Once safely at the sanctuary, the team began implementing a strict diet to help the animal shed its excess weight.
A spokesperson for the sanctuary highlighted the grim reality behind the tiger’s condition: “The illegal trafficking of tigers continues due to demand for products like tiger bone glue, traditional medicines, and ornamental body parts.
This practice not only endangers the species but causes immense animal suffering.” The spokesperson also reiterated the sanctuary’s commitment to ending this cruel trade and protecting tigers.
Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department reports that about 388 tigers are in captivity, private ownership, zoos, or safari parks.
This case adds to a series of troubling discoveries across Asia involving trafficked wild animals. Just months earlier, in December, another tragic rescue took place at a Thai breeding farm, where an emaciated female tiger named Salamas was found near death. Deprived of food for an extended period, Salamas was reduced to little more than skin and bones.
She was among 53 tigers and leopards saved by experts from the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT).
The breeding farm, which was facing financial ruin and legal action for alleged involvement in wildlife trafficking, had kept these animals in squalid, cramped conditions for years.
Salamas, along with a female tiger named “A-1” and a male tiger named “Rambo,” suffered from severe health problems, including malnutrition and respiratory issues.
Officials from WFFT managed to rescue 35 tigers and 18 leopards from the farm, with the most fragile animals being sedated and carefully transported in wildlife ambulances. The remaining 23 tigers and 15 leopards were scheduled to be moved in subsequent operations.
This string of rescues reflects the broader issue of illegal wildlife trade, which continues to threaten vulnerable species across the globe.
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