A couple in France were in for a huge shock after realising the special kitten they had ordered online was actually a tiger cub.According to reports, the couple from the port city of Le Havre, Normandy wanted to own a Savannah cat after coming across an online advertisement, almost two years ago. Soon, they forked out about $7,000 for the cat, which happens to be a cross between an African serval and a domesticated feline. The online purchase was easy as it was legal to keep the cat as a pet in France. However, they got much more than they bargained for as 'cat' turned out to be a baby tiger. The story of the mistaken cat began unfolding in 2018 when the couple ordered the cat online. Even though the seller handed over the then three-month Indonesian tiger to the couple, it's actual identity went unnoticed.
The couple said they grew suspicious about the animal after taking care of it for a week. When they called the cops, investigation revealed the animal was a Sumatran tiger cub. The cops said they were initially unclear about the animal's identity and where it came from. Fortunately, the tiger was in good health and was handed over to the French Biodiversity Office. Sumatran tigers are native to Indonesia and are considered to be critically endangered with fewer than 400 of them currently on the planet, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Strangely, the investigation is still ongoing and has not drawn to a conclusion even after two years. According to the latest reports, the cops have arrested nine people in the case, including the couple who bought the cat. The charges are related to the trafficking of protected species.