Feline Frenzy South of the Border

Here's a story that no one seems to be able to explain. Miguel Ortiz earns his living as a farmer in a small Mexican village just south of the California border. With the recent increase in drug related smuggling near his ranch as well as last week's FBI prisoner transfer gone awry only ten miles away, Ortiz was certain that he had seen all of the danger and excitement that the Mexican/American border had to offer. That was, however, until he went out to his field late three nights ago to witness a very strange and unexpected visitor enjoying one of his prized longhorns: a ten foot Bengal tiger.

That's right. The jungle cat native to India and Bangladesh was situated in the farm's back forty acres, Ortiz claims, feasting upon a slain bull. Ortiz says his was roused from his bed by the sound of his cattle stampeding across their enclosure, and went out to see what was the matter. "He was hunched over the bull with his eyes glowing. It was amazing. He looked right at me. I fired my rifle in the air above his head to try to frighten him off, but he just stared on." Ortiz proceeded to watch from a distance, snapping a few stunning pictures of the majestic beast as it finished its midnight snack. "And then, he just got up and left. But I could have sworn he nodded at me just before he took off into the distance."

And lest you think Mr. Ortiz is making all of this up, Mexican wildlife and game officials say that this is only the first of many claims from locals reporting to have seen the giant feline. One woman even witnessed the beast climbing a tree in her yard until the sound of her scream frightened it off.

Dean of Animal Studies at the University of Mexico City, Dr. Juan Urrango had this to say: "Based on the photos that Mr. Ortiz provided, we can confirm the creature as a fully grown male Bengal tiger. We have no idea where he came from or why he's here, but our best men are currently out looking for him so that he can be delivered to a wildlife reserve." Dr. Urrango also pointed out the animal seems to be moving in a determined, southeasterly direction, suggesting that the tiger has a very sophisticated sense of navigation.

While it seems strange, Dr. Urrango says that it is not as uncommon as you might think for these exotic animals to end up in such strange locations. He hypothesized that this tiger most likely belonged to a private owner who lost track of him. "From the photos, we can see evidence of scarring and injury to the face and torso which indicates abuse. However, those could have been the product of natural interactions with other tigers, and whoever took him in did so as a rescue project. Until we find the animal, there is no way to tell."

Authorities says that they will continue to track the tiger until he is found, but residents in the tiger's projected route are being encouraged to be on the lookout and to keep pets and small animals indoors at all times. Though no humans have been injured, it is estimated that the animal has done nearly eight thousand dollars in damage to property and livestock in the three short days it has been reportedly on the loose. But, most of those effected have taken the attitude echoed by Mr. Ortiz. "Hey, yeah, he got a bull. I say it's worth it. I mean, that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, to see one of God's most magnificent creatures. Who could complain about that?"

Who indeed? --Reported by Jaime Gonzalez for Me Gusta La Noticias