Although social media posts have been circulating about the possibility that a tiger was spotted along the Rio Grande, reliable sources have debunked them. The posts have been shared widely, similar to those from 2018 which stated that hippos were also spotted in the river. However, KGNS reported that the Laredo Police Department, as well as the Lamar Bruni Vergara Center, have identified no sightings or reports.
The picture circulating around the internet world is that of a tiger partially submerged in the river, amid some reeds. It’s been shared on Facebook, which generated some uptake and resharing, before confirmation that any of it was true. For whatever reason, tigers do, in fact, appear to hold some sort of fascination for Texas exotic pet fans. In 2017, the Houston Chronicle stated: “Estimates put Texas’ tiger population up to a few thousand. But the Department of State Health Services, which oversees ownership of dangerous wild animals in Texas, has 47 permits on record for tigers owned outside accredited groups like circuses, laboratories and zoos…” The paper further went on to reveal that the state was having a hard time keeping records on the tiger population in Texas, which is understandable considering anyone with access to plastic can purchase a tiger cub online.
