When the bomb squad gave the all-clear, authorities proceeded to open the box carefully.
What they found inside was utterly unexpected.
Lying amid foul-smelling, urine-soaked sawdust were two small tiger cubs—frail, dirty, and terrified.
Their fur was matted, and insects crawled across the inside of the box.
The cubs were visibly malnourished and dehydrated, having likely endured days without food, water, or proper ventilation.
Veterinarians and animal rescue services were immediately contacted. The cubs, a male and a female, later named Tobby and Sophie, were taken to a specialized shelter.
While their survival seemed uncertain at first, they gradually recovered with proper care. Fortunately, they were not separated and remained together at the shelter.
Further investigation revealed that the cubs had been illegally sold from a zoo in Kazakhstan.
They were part of a litter of five, though the whereabouts of the other three remains unknown.
The zoo director was arrested and sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his involvement in the smuggling operation.
Sadly, the trafficking of exotic animals continues to be a major concern worldwide. This story, however, had a happy ending—thanks to the dedication of one alert and loyal service dog who didn’t just find contraband, but saved two innocent lives.
