No, I am not blogging about an idiot shooting an endangered tiger with a submachine gun! This photo was taken during a training exercise designed to simulate Siberian Tigers escaping from their cages at a Chinese zoo.

At this point in the exercise the “tiger” has been shot with a tranquilizer gun. I find it alarming to see a policeman pointing a Type 64 Type 79 submachine gun at the animal. Chambered in the weak 7.62x25mm pistol cartridge, it is just about the worst gun possible to use against a 850 pound beast. There is a reason the British hunted tigers with large-caliber double rifles, along with overpowered pistols for backup.

According to Wikipedia, in both 2010 and 2011 Siberian Tigers killed zoo/tour staff in China.

.58 Caliber Howdah Tiger Pistol (with carbine stock)

[ Many thanks to Alex for emailing us the link. ]