Officials in South Texas have issued a warning after a tiger reportedly escaped from a zoo in Mexico near the border city of Reynosa. According to MySA, the escape occurred along the banks of the Rio Grande River on Wednesday, September 3.
Local residents are urged to exercise caution while the search is conducted. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office informed Valley Central of their vigilance in the matter, although they were not actively participating in the search for the tiger. The Quinta La Fauna Zoo, which is located on the river's bank, announced on Facebook that it would be closed to the public until further notice.
After the tiger's escape, Reynosa police notified their counterparts in Hidalgo County. The zoo, according to its social media, features tigers as one of its main attractions and has faced criticism for keeping exotic animals. In one Instagram post from July 6, they introduced a new tiger named Fíona, noting that most of the wildlife at the zoo is donated.
There has been limited communication from the zoo regarding the incident. When the San Antonio Express-News reached out, there was no immediate response from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, and calls to the zoo were unanswered. In the meantime, deputies in the surrounding area have been told to "remain vigilant," ready for any signs of the predatory cat that has left its enclosure.
