Escaped Siberian tiger hunted down west of Bangkok

The 10-year-old female tiger, named Aura, broke out of its cage at the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi on Thursday.

Station chief Pakpoom Pidthong said on Friday that Aura managed to escape after it scared two workers as they tried to close the cage. Siberian tigers are the world’s largest big cats, measuring up to 3.9 metres in length and weighing up to 300 kilos.

Pakpoom said staff from the breeding station and local authorities followed the trail of the escaped tiger in a bid to prevent it from entering residential areas.

"Officials found Aura at 8pm near Khao Son Farm and then shot her with an anaesthetic dart before returning the tiger to its cage," he said.

He said Aura woke up at 6am on Friday and is now under a veterinarian's care.

"The next step is to make improvements to the tiger’s cage and give staff more training on safety and procedures," he added.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has appointed a panel to oversee the wildlife station’s risk management plans.