A male tiger kept at a private facility on the outskirts of Leipzig broke out of its enclosure on Sunday, prompting an armed police response. The animal, believed to belong to a controversial private trainer who calls herself Germany’s “Tiger Queen,” attacked a 72‑year‑old caretaker inside the pen, leaving the man with serious injuries.

Police received the emergency call just before 1 p.m. local time and arrived quickly. After locating the escaped tiger, officers deemed the animal a continuing public safety threat and shot it dead. The investigation into how the tiger managed to escape is ongoing, and authorities are conducting a drone sweep of the site to confirm no other animals have fled.

The enclosure, part of an industrial complex near the town of Schkeuditz, housed eight big cats, including several tigers that have been featured in public “petting” events advertised by the trainer. Local officials, including the district mayor, have called for the remaining animals to be relocated, warning that the incident could have been far worse if more people had been harmed. Animal‑rights groups are urging stricter regulation of privately owned exotic animals, citing concerns over the conditions in which the cats are kept.