A tiger believed to belong to Carmen Zander, Germany's self-styled "Tiger Queen", was shot dead by armed police on Sunday after attacking a keeper and escaping its enclosure on the outskirts of Leipzig. The 72-year-old keeper was seriously injured and taken to hospital, according to police. The incident occurred at a privately owned facility in an industrial area near Schkeuditz, where eight big cats were kept.

Carmen Zander, a former circus performer turned private owner, has long faced criticism over her handling of large predators. German media reports have highlighted repeated accusations regarding the conditions in which she kept the animals. The facility offered "exclusive tiger cuddling events", according to her website, a practice that drew sharp rebuke after the attack. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, in an editorial, called for a ban on private big-cat ownership, arguing that such tragedies are inevitable when dangerous animals are kept for profit or spectacle.

Viewed from Berlin, the debate over exotic pet ownership has resurfaced with urgency. Local authorities in Schkeuditz have urged Zander to relocate the remaining tigers, a position echoed by the town's mayor. The incident has also drawn international attention, with coverage in Swedish and Brazilian outlets underscoring the broader questions about safety and ethics. While police have not confirmed whether the enclosure met legal standards, the attack has reignited calls for stricter regulation across Germany.

For now, the surviving tigers at the facility remain under scrutiny. Animal welfare organisations and policymakers are likely to push for a nationwide ban on private big-cat keeping, a measure that has gained traction in other European countries. The episode, coming barely a week after a dead whale made headlines in Berlin, serves as a grim reminder of the perils inherent in commodifying wildlife.