According to Paris police, the 440-pound tiger escaped from Cirque Bormann-Moreno on Friday and meandered around the capital for "some time" before it was tracked down by its owner, Sputnik reported.
Witnesses say two circus personnel lured the tiger to an alleyway using a slab of meat attached to a pole. With the target cornered, the owner was reportedly able to take two shots and neutralize the big cat.
The owner, after being taken into police custody, is said to be in "shock" from the incident, according to a Paris fire department official.
No injuries or deaths related to the tiger's escape have been reported, but police have opened an investigation.
Cirque Bormann-Moreno, which was planning a grand opening on December 3, has yet to comment on the incident.