A tubby tiger that weighs 32 stone has been put on a strict diet after being rescued from a tiny cage.
The obese big cat was found by the police during a raid on a wildlife trafficking group.
After rounding up the suspects, the police then went to check on several animals locked up in cages.
READ MORE: Clever kitty dumped in sealed cardboard box with tin of tuna survived after clawing his way out
They noticed a chubby tiger that apparently had difficulty standing up.
The big cat was locked in a tiny, cramped cage.
Realising the animal needed specialist help, the cops reached out to members of the Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
The group operates in cooperation with the international animal welfare organisation Four Paws.
A team of vets drove for over six hours to Phu Tho Province in Vietnam where the tiger was found by the cops on 11 May.
Officials were stunned to learn that the big cat weighed around 31.5 stone (200kg), as reported by Need To Know.
Tigers usually weigh between 10 stone (65kg) and 26 stone (170kgs)
On the long journey back to Ninh Binh, vets had to regularly stop to check on the tiger and give it water due to the searing temperatures.
Volunteers will now place the tiger on a strict diet so it can shed its excess weight.
A shelter spokesperson said: “The illegal trafficking of tigers persists, driven by the demand for tiger bone glue, body parts for traditional medicines, and ornamental purposes.
“This places the species’ survival in danger and causes severe suffering to these magnificent creatures.
“We are committed to fighting against this cruel trade, advocating for the protection and welfare of tigers.
“According to the Forest Protection Department (FPD), around 388 tigers are kept in zoos, safaris and under private ownership.”
READ MORE: ‘Traumatised bear’ who spent 20 years on bile farm is unrecognisable after rescue
