A wild tiger with its leg trapped in a snare for three days was rescued in Thailand.

Wildlife officers launched a search for the injured seven-year-old female tiger seen roaming a forest with its right paw constricted by a steel cable in Suphan Buri province.

Park rangers found it skulking in the undergrowth near the Phu Toei National Park, a protected wildlife area, on January 8. Staff converged on the area and narrowed down the tiger's location using drones. They found it resting in tall grass next to a stream at 6:30 pm local time.

Park head Sawitree Chuaphong said the tiger was subdued with tranquilisers.

She said: 'The veterinary team rushed to treat it by cutting off the steel wire, cleaning the wound, and administering antibiotics, fluids and vitamins. They first took it to the park office for further care.

'At 8:45 pm, after the anaesthetic wore off, the tiger was moved to the Bueng Chawak Wildlife Rescue Center where it will continue treatment. There are two veterinarians closely monitoring its recovery.'

The tiger was taken to a local breeding centre on January 15. Vets have implanted it with a microchip for tracking. They also took blood and fluid samples to add to their wildlife genetic database.

Officials said the tiger will be released when it is deemed strong enough to return to the wild.

Snares in Thailand are commonly used by poachers to catch animals such as tigers, elephants, or pangolins in the country's dense forests. These traps, often made from simple materials like wires or ropes, are indiscriminate and can severely injure or kill protected wildlife.

Thailand is a major trafficking hub and market for illegal wildlife products due to its central location in Southeast Asia. Smugglers often target protected species such as tigers, turtles, and birds, to supply demand for exotic pets, traditional medicine, and luxury goods.

In November 2024, police busted a tiger skin business amid a crackdown on wildlife traffickers in the country.

Authorities stormed the home of Chit Pasutangkura, 35, on November 19 in Nakhon Sawan province, where he had been fashioning grotesque bags and wallets out of the protected predators.

They seized a gruesome haul including three large tiger pelts being dried under the sun, 44 tiger skin pieces, 18 tiger skin bags, nine tiger skin belts, 22 bear-claw keychains, four snake-skin bags, and sewing equipment. The home was allegedly used as a workshop and storage site for the illegal trade.