Federal authorities will investigate whether charges should be filed against an entertainment company and the owner of an escaped circus tiger found wandering the interstate south of Atlanta.
In an email, Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said state officials have handed over the probe to the US Department of Agriculture. He said multiple states were involved and USDA oversees wild animal regulations.
The USDA will look at whether charges should be filed against Feld Entertainment, the owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus, and big cat trainer Alexander Lacey.
Feld Entertainment was transporting Suzy, a 6-year-old Bengal tiger owned by Lacey, from Florida to Tennessee when she escaped from the truck carrying 14 big cats on Sept. 6. Suzy was shot and killed after wandering loose around a suburban Atlanta neighborhood and attacking a terrified Dachshund named Journey.
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