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A farmer in China’s Heilongjiang province narrowly escaped a tiger attack on Monday while standing outside his house.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media on Tuesday, shows the man stepping into the street, spotting the tiger, and rushing back to shut a large iron gate, just as the massive cat charges at it.
After the one-minute video clip, verified by Reuters, went viral on Chinese social media platform Weibo, authorities in Heilongjiang province warned locals to be on alert for Siberian tigers.
State and local media later reported that two men had been attacked, with a 65-year-old cattle farmer surnamed Zhao requiring surgery to save his left hand.
His son told a local radio station that two tigers were on the loose.
Officials have not confirmed the number of tigers or whether they have been caught.
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More ShortsState media said it was the first time a Siberian tiger had been spotted in Boli county.
Several counties have issued notices encouraging locals to report sightings of tiger droppings or footprints, keep tabs on their livestock and organise village patrols.
“Siberian tigers are generally more active in the early morning and dusk hours,” Reuters quoted a notice as saying.
“Compared to other big cats, they can coexist with humans and are not very aggressive.”
China is home to approximately 70 wild Siberian tigers, which are a protected species.
With inputs from agencies