Athens zoo fights to save tiger cub found in garbage

Veterinarians are fighting to save a white tiger cub abandoned in a rubbish bin at an Athens zoo, believed to be a victim of the illegal wildlife trade.

The three-month old white tiger was found on February 28 under a garbage bin in the parking lot of the Attica Zoological Park by a cleaner, who notified the zoo owner.

"It is the first time ever we had such an animal dumped outside our zoo," said zoo founder Jean-Jacques Lesueur. "I mean we had a number of cases of animals dumped, but usually these are abandoned pets - puppies, kittens, tortoises … but a tiger? Never."

The zoo's security camera video shows a vehicle driving up to the bins before midnight the previous night. Authorities were trying to trace the license plates, said Lesueur.

The animal, which was thin and dehydrated, is in a serious condition.

"When I first saw the cub, I couldn't...