Mexican police find tiger cub sent by express mail

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Authorities in Mexico said they rescued a sedated tiger cub that had been placed in a plastic container and sent via express mail.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection said police using a sniffer dog to root out contraband from a load of mail at the New Tlaquepaque Central Bus Station in Jalisco discovered a plastic box containing a Bengal tiger cub.

The cub, which Federal Police estimated to be about two months old, had been sedated and sent via express mail.

The tiger cub, which had been bound for an address in Queretaro, was found to be dehydrated and underweight but in otherwise good health. It was taken to the Wildlife Rescue Directorate of the Municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuniga.

Investigators said the tiger's ownership papers were in order, but the method of mailing it was considered to be a form of animal mistreatment.

The case remains under investigation.