The Vietnamese police have arrested a man who had marinated the entire body of an endangered tiger in wine which was then drunk to provide “extra strength”.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Ly Hai Tho, was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City, previously called Saigon, in southern Vietnam for violating laws for the protection of endangered animals.
He was reportedly caught storing the dead body of an Indochinese tiger, a population of Panthera tigris tigris native to Southeast Asia, in wine at his home.
The Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Indochinese tigers as endangered.
Tho had initially been investigated by the police as part of a suspected wildlife trafficking ring and they raided his home.
As well as the tiger corpse, officers revealed they found the heads of a tiger and a bear that were stuffed.
Under questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted that he bought the tiger and other animals from an online contact.
He claimed that he paid GBP 650 for the tiger before soaking its dead body with strong wine and keeping it at home, according to the police.
In Vietnam, some people believe that sipping tiger-soaked wine will give them extra strength.
Several unspecified weapons were also found at the suspect’s home as the police investigation continues.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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