An airport pickup box with numerous unfinished holes came without proper labeling. The workplace employees ignored the box and carried on with their tasks. Because it didn’t have the correct tags, it would be stowed among other items in the same condition. The container was roughly 16 inches tall and only said that it was to be delivered to Syria.

Image/Story Source Credit: Animals Lebanon / Facebook

After a week of waiting in a holding room, the box was improperly labeled. Finally, legal confirmation was received that employees at the airport had the authority to open and examine the contents of the container. What they discovered nearly knocked them off their feet!

Three Siberian tigercats were packed inside the box. Nobody knew how they had survived for so long. However, all three of them clung to life despite the fact that they hadn’t eaten or drunk anything in a week! Animals Lebanon posted on Facebook, “Nothing indicated that the box contained tigers or even live animals, and there were no details of a shipper or receiver,” the animal rights group Animals Lebanon wrote on Facebook.

Image/Story Source Credit: Animals Lebanon / Facebook

The three male kittens had been on a flight from Ukraine and were supposed to be sold to a zoo in Syria. Animals Lebanon demanded that the tigers be transferred to them. A court ruled in their favor. “Their paw pads were raw and red from being coated with urine, and they had fresh wounds on their back legs and thighs,”

The Siberian tigers were in desperate need of help. Endangered species are highly valued on the black market. People who seek to profit from their illicit transactions may not consider the animals’ wellbeing.

Image/Story Source Credit: Animals Lebanon / Facebook

“They are improving – but they are still at risk! Big cats can be worth tens of thousands of dollars on the black market. The owner is fighting to get them back, and we are fighting for the tigers and rule of law,” Animals Lebanon explained on Facebook.

Image/Story Source Credit: Animals Lebanon / Facebook

The zoo opposed the rescue group’s request to return the tigers. Thankfully, a judge once again ruled in favor of the recovery team, allowing all three tigers to remain with them. “Thank you for all of your hard work that made this possible. 

The tigers have thrived in their new environment. We’re thrilled they were discovered just as we needed them!