The Endangered Wildlife Trust says that the owner of Panjo the tiger was transporting the animal illegally when it went missing.

It said South African environmental law does not require a person to have a permit to own an exotic animal but a permit is required when importing or transporting such an animal.

Panjo escaped from Goosey Fernandes' bakkie on Monday night while en route to the vet.

He was found after a long search using helicopters and trackers outside Bronkhorstspruit on Wednesday night.

The trust's Reinette Coetzee said: "He was committing a crime in accordance of two legislations, that of Limpopo and that of the Gauteng province. We don't condone people working in transgression of environmental legislations. That is of a concern to us."

Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Parks Board says that Fernandes could face criminal charges. If found guilty, he faces two years in jail or a fine of R3000 for transporting Panjo without a permit.

Fernandes, however, insists he did everything by the book.

"I am a businessman who owns a game farm worth R10-million, and I do things according to the law. The Mpumalanga Parks Board is welcome to come to my farm and talk to me about the permit. I am not prepared to talk about this matter, only the well-being of my cat," he said.