A man who secretly kept a tigress in his shed for three years was seized by police when he attempted to flee with the big cat in his car.

Astonished officers discovered the fully grown beast roaming freely in a rubbish-strewn yard in Starominskaya, western Russia, after receiving a tip-off from terrified neighbours.

Police video footage of the raid shows the tigress appearing calm as it prowls around the yard, marking its territory with its chin, on October 31.

Local media reported that officers arrested the owner when he tried to evade capture by bundling the big cat into his car.

Starominsky District Prosecutor's Officer later said: 'The investigation established that a resident of the village of Starominskaya purchased a tigress in an unspecified location in approximately 2021 to keep her in a farm building on the territory of his home as a pet.

'During the inspection, the owner of the tigress did not have any documents confirming the legality of the acquisition of the animal, and therefore it was decided to seize the tigress and transfer it to a specialised institution for its further maintenance since it poses a threat to the safety of life and health of people.'

They added: 'At the time of the seizure of the tigress, the owner of the wild animal resisted and prevented the seizure of the animal, tried to take it out in his car for the purpose of its further shelter.'

The owner now faces charges of disobeying a police officer and endangering public safety.

Authorities said the tigress was tranquilised and taken to a wild animal refuge for veterinary checks.