A British businessman organized a fundraiser to rescue a neglected tiger kept in a Greek zoo.
David Barnes, owner of a book store in the UK, has almost raised the £11,500 required to save the 485lb tiger, named Phevos, from a bankrupt Greek zoo in the city of Trikala.
Phevos, the 15-year-old tiger, has been alone in his cage since March, when his companion Athena died after an infected wound on her paw was left untreated.
The tiger was rescued from a travelling Italian circus by the Greek authorities in 2001 and was transferred to Trikala zoo. However the zoo went bankrupt due to the financial crisis and the tiger was left alone and neglected.
Since then, the 62-year-old Barnes, who used to work for the Animal Welfare Fund in Greece and has saved dozens of exotic animals during the past 20 years, has been trying to find a new home for Phevos.
Eventually, he managed to raise the money required and Phevos will be transferred to a sanctuary near San Diego, California, in the US.
“I have raised just over £10,400, so just £1,100 to go. Whatever I’m short of, will go on my credit card,” reported Barnes who is waiting on the necessary paperwork for the tiger’s transportation.
Barnes thanked everyone who donated and helped Phevos find a better home.
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