Rare moment of affection, as a Siberian tiger extends its paws for a hug following a jab from its caretaker.
In the clip, the woman is seen petting the tiger named Jing Jing in an attempt to comfort it before administering the shot in Puyang, located in China’s province of Henan, on 13th February.
The tiger then gently clasped the woman’s leg with its paws, standing still as she applied the dose.
Shortly afterwards, the woman affectionately patted Jing Jing on its back, prompting the animal to eagerly leap into her embrace, seemingly seeking a hug.
A group of onlookers observing the scene through the window were visibly moved by the tender interaction between the tiger and its keeper.
The recording triggered many comments by social media users after it was shared on China’s version of TikTok, Douyin, the following day.
Douyin user ‘Fat Fat Paints Ink Wash’ said: “Love is the best trust. Even the king of beasts knows that the nanny will not harm it, even when facing needles and syringes.
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“It knows the nanny loves it and will never hurt it.”
Then user ‘Vicky’ commented: “Please make laws to protect the innocent animals of China.”
And ‘Big girl’ added: “See, those who have a tiger at home should provide it with ample love.
“Real tigers are all so adorable, gentle, and capable of being affectionate.”
The video has reached more than 403,000 likes and over 71,000 shares several hours after it was posted.
The Siberian tiger also called the Amur tiger is the largest felid in the world and is native to the birch forests of the Russian Far East, Northeast China, and possibly North Korea.
It is classified as ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, the Red Book of Russia, and in Appendices II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
It is estimated that there are around 400 to 500 Siberian tigers left in the wild.
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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