Anyone that has been in Qatar for the last couple years has probably heard of the rogue tiger incident. In 2016, a tiger was spotted wandering through a traffic jam on one of Qatar’s busiest roads. The big cat had apparently escaped while en route to a Malayalam film set to shoot a scene.

The incident did indeed ruffle some feathers, and since we’re on the subject of wild, powerful and potentially dangerous animals, it’s worth mentioning that a draft law was approved yesterday, prohibiting the ownership, import, export or trade of any dangerous animals and creatures without a license from the competent entity. 

According to a report by The Peninsula, the Cabinet, which met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, approved the draft law on regulating the ownership of dangerous animals or creatures, and referred it to the Advisory Council.

It is illegal to take, walk around, or hike with any of the dangerous animals in public spaces.

The owners and holders of dangerous animals and their custodians are also expected to take precautions issued by a decision of the minister to make certain that the animals do not escape and wreak havoc in public.

To be fair, these new measures will protect the animals as much as they will the people around them, and hopefully discourage the illegal trade of rare or endangered species. 

Cover image credit: todayonline.com