A 10-month-old tiger cub has been seized from a property in the “Mirage” horticultural association in the Pushkin urban district of the Moscow Region following complaints of animal cruelty. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Moscow Region confirmed the seizure.

The owner of the property where the tiger cub was kept could not provide documentation to prove legal ownership of the animal. He claimed to have acquired the cub in another region of Russia in 2024 and transported it to the Moscow Region. Neighbors reported instances of abuse, alleging that the cub was doused with cold water and beaten with a shovel and a log. A video surfaced showing a teenager, reportedly the owner’s son, raising a board at the animal. The family has two other children, including a toddler.

Svetlana Akulova, director of the Moscow Zoo, stated that residents had previously contacted the chairman of the horticultural association, who promised to transfer the tiger cub to authorities. After receiving an appeal, Rosprirodnadzor dispatched inspectors to the site, but the owners initially refused entry. A court order was obtained, allowing authorities to enter the property and seize the tiger cub.

During the inspection, a three-month-old leopard cub was also discovered on the property and is slated for seizure. The tiger cub has been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center for examination.

A law prohibiting the keeping of certain wild animals, including tigers, lions, wolves, and others, in private residences is set to take effect in Russia on September 1, 2025.