Police investigate sale of tigers in Wal-Mart parking lot (McAllen,TX)

Brownsville Herald ^ | 06/19/2008 | Ryan Holeywell

[devane617]

McALLEN - Police and federal authorities are investigating the sale of six Bengal tiger cubs in a Wal-Mart parking lot Sunday afternoon.

The animals appear to have been bound for Mexico and neither the buyer nor seller had the permits needed to legally transport the endangered species across national borders, a federal agent said.

A group from Spring Hill Widlife Ranch in Bryan was selling the cubs - four white ones and two orange ones - in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart near Jackson Avenue and Expressway 83.

Authorities believe the Spring Hill employees were selling the tigers to a pre-arranged buyer via an intermediary, and that the animals' final destination would be in Mexico.

"The people who were picking up the tigers and taking possession of them... were Mexican nationals in a Mexico-licensed vehicle," said Special Agent Alejandro Rodriguez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He said tigers have been smuggled into Mexico through the Rio Grande Valley before.

Rodriguez said some people involved in the transaction said the tigers were to be taken to a Mexico City zoo, while others said they would be going to Roma.

Under federal law, it's illegal to transport an endangered species across national borders unless both buyer and seller have what is known as a CITES permit.

Those involved in the transaction could face federal conspiracy charges if authorities determine the animals were, in fact, Mexico-bound.

Police said ranch employees were selling the white cubs for $5,500 per animal, and the orange ones for $900 per animal. The buyers' vehicle lacked air conditioning, police said, which also raised concern about the animals' safety.

Rodriguez said the cubs are healthy and would be transported to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville as authorities continue their investigation.

The orange tigers are about 10 weeks old, Rodriguez said, and the white ones are about two weeks old.

Rodriguez said it appears Spring Hill has sold tigers in the Rio Grande Valley at least two other times in the last 18 months.

Police arrested the co-owner of Spring Hill Wildlife Ranch for interfering with public duties, authorities said.

The woman, whose name police have not released, attempted to barricade herself in the truck containing the tigers after Monitor staff began photographing the animals from the parking lot. She is expected to be arraigned Monday.

Two people who had been questioned by the police about the transaction declined to comment on the case to The Monitor.

Police learned of the transaction when a McAllen Police Department patrol officer became suspicious of the truck with Mexican license plates in the Wal-Mart parking lot, police said.

When the officer approached, the group moved to the parking lot of the nearby Mervyn's department store, prompting him to follow and ultimately discover the tiger cubs.

"The basic premise of this transaction in a parking lot - it doesn't seem right," said McAllen Police Sgt. Eddie De La Rosa.

Bengal tigers can grow to 9 feet long and weight more than 550 pounds. There are about 2,000 Bengal tigers living in the wild. The cats can be found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

Jerry Stones, facilities director at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, said Bengal tigers are an endangered species. There are thousands of large cats including tigers, leopards and lions owned privately - and legally -in Texas, Stones said.

He said he thinks some tiger owners may not realize the effort that goes into caring for the cats. "They buy them as babies," Stones said. "They don't realize it's going to get to be hundreds of pounds, eat an awful lot of food and become dangerous."

[devane617]

Just what I always wanted...

[yldstrk]

Have people lost their ever lovin’ minds?

[DogBarkTree]

Walmart tigers are painted with lead based paint.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Best Wal-Mart related story EVER! LOL!

[RichInOC]

Yeah! I want one!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Using her stuffed tiger as an audiovisual aid, Koira shows local squirrels the thrashing they can expect if she ever catches them.

[RDTF]

agree! LMAO!

[GulfBreeze]

Me too. I want my own Wal-Mart!!!

[Slings and Arrows]

Police said ranch employees were selling the white cubs for $5,500 per animal, and the orange ones for $900 per animal.

That's cheaper than some of the more exotic domestic cat breeds.

[Hoodlum91]

You really CAN buy anything at Wal-Mart!

[Mercat]

two weeks old? grrrrr

[theDentist]

"They don't realize it's going to get to be hundreds of pounds, eat an awful lot of food and become dangerous."

Another master stroke for Public Schooling anywhere.

[The_Victor]

You really CAN buy anything at Wal-Mart!

Get outta my head, I was gonna post that! LOL

[vietvet67]

The sale of full grown ones would have resulted in the announcement “Clean up, parking lot, row 4.”

[Hoodlum91]

WooHoo! I’m in Victor’s head!!

[Slings and Arrows]

You really CAN buy anything at Wal-Mart!

What you said.

[gridlock]

We should integrate such kitties into the “Virtual Fence”...

[conservativeharleyguy]

A friend of my nephew works on a game ranch south of San Antonio, and claims that there's an escaped tiger loose in the area. There's plenty of hogs, javelina, and whitetail deer, not to mention all of the “exotic” game in the area to sustain it for years.

[gridlock]

WooHoo! I’m in Victor’s head!!

OK. Now start in with... "We had joy, we had fun, we had Seasons In The Sun..."

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Someone in the Deli pick up please, need a Price check, six pack of Bengal tigers.

Price check, six pack Bengal tigers, thank you.

[CindyDawg]

I’m glad you said south. I’m taking grandkidsks to the one north of San Antonio soon.

[CindyDawg]

Unbelievable. A Walmart parking lot? They should have went to the flea market.

[Tribune7]

You really can get anything at the Walmart. I betcha they were Chinese tigers though and not Bengal ones.

[capt. norm]

Doesn't that just frost your flakes?

[JRios1968]

The booking picture

[killermosquito]

Walmart is amazing!

[navymom1]

I could care less about Walmart. Sadly, these animals are often abused, starved and held in conditions of deplorable filth. The lucky ones reach Wildlife Rescues where their lives dramatically improve, still some are blind from cataracs and a host of other ailments. I wish animal abuse laws were hard-time and carried out to the full extent. The people who breed exotics for sale in my opinion are low scum, bottom feeders. The people who abuse an animal, need to be put out of their pain. Go ahead and flame away. I won’t change my opinion.

[BlazingArizona]

Are they talking about that area in front of the store where they drag out the barbecues and lawn furniture? Sure, I want a tiger for my backyard too, but I'm waiting until they're on two-for-one.

[Daffynition]

These are shrimps ... where are the full-sized ones?

[GOPJ]

Had this happened in the parking lot of Bed, Bath, and Beyond, does anyone believe Bed, Bath, and Beyond, would be in the headline?

[dblshot]

“They don’t realize it’s going to get to be hundreds of pounds, eat an awful lot of food and become dangerous.”

Sounds like a lot of the people I see waddling around in WaddelMart now.

[N. Theknow]

Sounds like a lot of the people I see waddling around in WaddelMart now.

Isn't it amazing to see how many "Tub-Boats" the average Wally World has being used at the same time?

[dblshot]

Somebody said they prefer to go to the Dollar store rather than Walmart because they don't have to dress up to go to the Dollar store. Makes you wonder...

[rod1]

I always thought that Walmart was one of the better stocked chains. But this surprises even me.

[rod1]

That’s because the tigers use your whole house as a scratching post.

[Nailbiter]

ping

[Sax]

Police investigate sale of tigers in Wal-Mart parking lot

Now look, Oddball. The trade for the uniforms I can understand. But to buy this tank, you got to be crazy!

[Mr. Silverback]

Somehow I don’t think you’re going to find many animal abuse supporters at FR.

[denydenydeny]

The animals appear to have been bound for Mexico....the animals' final destination would be in Mexico...."The people who were picking up the tigers and taking possession of them... were Mexican nationals in a Mexico-licensed vehicle,"....He said tigers have been smuggled into Mexico through the Rio Grande Valley before.

I get a feeling that there are drug lords who want tigers for private menageries, and that people are going to be fed to them.

[vetvetdoug]

Unfortunately, this happens around here about once every couple of years and no one blinks an eye. The animals sold at First Monday in Ripley, Mississippi, would shock those from outside the area. One cannot make a public complaint without the fear of retribution.

[Gabz]

WalMart Ping.............

Tiger in the tank??????? er truck........LOL!!!!

[vetvetdoug]

Its amazing to see how many "tub Boats"..

I saw a pretty hot looking babe at a Wal Mart once...

[philled]

I get a feeling that there are drug lords who want tigers for private menageries, and that people are going to be fed to them.

Those were my exact thoughts as well.

[SouthTexas]

Police learned of the transaction when a McAllen Police Department patrol officer became suspicious of the truck with Mexican license plates in the Wal-Mart parking lot, police said.

Would this really raise any suspicions?

[Biggirl]

People have to be crazy to begin with. =^..^=

These are not their domestic cousins. =^..^=

[CindyDawg]

LOL. Good catch.

[CindyDawg]

I don’t want animals abused either but I think you are wrong about the penalties. Our laws are strong enough already. In fact you can get more time for animal abuse than people abuse.

[airforceF4]

I worked at a NE OH WalMart in Lawn & Garden. We'd have to oversee Pets on slow nights (2nd shift). Boy, can you imagine the purr motors on those tigers? Betcha they were bound for a “hunting preserve” to give the gringos a thrill. Glad these little ones were found and rescued.

[DrewsDad]

I know Detroit got off to a lousy start this spring, but selling them in a McAllen parking lot???

[Jack Black]

Have people lost their ever lovin’ minds?

Yea, what's up with that whole 'Tigers are an endangered species' non-sense. You can buy tiger cubs in *most* Wal-Mart parking lots. I know I got my two cuties, Mr. Hugo and Mr. Josh, at the Wal-Mart parking lot here in Vancouver. What I like about my Tigers is they are not fussy eaters, the love to run and play frisbee, and always loved to get scratched behind the ears. Cleaning the sandbox is a pain, though.