Sad tiger attack

NoH8

Sad tiger attack

NoH8

Did you guys hear about this? One of my oldest and dearest friends works there, with the tigers and lions. Her friend was the zookeeper who was attacked last year and is still recovering.

I haven't talked to my friend yet, I only heard the sad news last night at 11:00 and it's too early to call. She's going to be devistated. Ironically, she's back home for the holidays as she was last year when her friend was attacked.

Tiger Kills Man at San Francisco Zoo

By LOUISE CHU - 43 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Investigators trying to determine how a tiger escaped its zoo enclosure on Christmas Day - killing one man and mauling two others - plan a thorough sweep of the zoo grounds Wednesday to look for clues.

Authorities do not believe more people were attacked, but they want to inspect the area in the daylight. Zoo officials are still uncertain how long the tiger, which last year badly mauled a zookeeper, was loose before being shot dead.

The three men who were attacked Tuesday while visiting the zoo were in their 20s, police spokesman Steve Mannina said. The attack occurred just after the 5 p.m. closing time, on the east end of the 125-acre grounds.

They suffered "pretty aggressive bite marks," Mannina said.

The two injured men were listed in critical but stable condition at San Francisco General Hospital. John Brown, an emergency room physician, told the San Francisco Chronicle that they suffered deep bites and claw cuts to their heads and upper bodies.

The Siberian tiger, named Tatiana, was the same giant cat that attacked a zookeeper just about a year ago during a public feeding, said Robert Jenkins, the zoo's director of animal care and conservation.

The approximately 300-pound female did not leave through an open door, Jenkins said. But he could not explain how it escaped - the tiger's enclosure is surrounded by a 15-foot-wide moat and 20-foot-high walls.

"There was no way out through the door," Jenkins said. "The animal appears to have climbed or otherwise leapt out of the enclosure."

The first attack happened right outside the Siberian's enclosure - the victim died at the scene. A group of four responding officers came across his body when they made their way into the dark zoo grounds, Mannina said.

Then they saw the second victim. He was about 300 yards away, in front of the Terrace Cafe.

The man was sitting on the ground, blood running from gashes in his head. Tatiana sat next to him. Suddenly, the cat attacked the man again, Mannina said.

The officers started approaching the tiger, bearing their handguns. Tatiana started moving in their direction. Several of the officers then fired, killing the animal.

Only then did they see the third victim, who had also been mauled.

The zoo is open 365 days a year. Although no new visitors were let in after 5 p.m., the grounds were not scheduled to close until an hour later, and there were between 20 and 25 people still on site when the attacks happened, zoo officials said. Employees and visitors were told to take shelter when zoo officials learned of the attacks.

"This is a tragic event for San Francisco," Fire Department spokesman Lt. Ken Smith said. "We pride ourselves in our zoo, and we pride ourselves in tourists coming and looking at our city."

There are five tigers at the zoo - three Sumatrans and two Siberians. Officials initially worried that four tigers had escaped, but soon learned only one had escaped its pen, Mannina said.

On Dec. 22, 2006, Tatiana reached through the cage's iron bars and attacked a keeper with her claws and teeth, causing deep lacerations to the worker's arms. The zoo's Lion House was temporarily closed during an investigation.

California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health blamed the zoo for the assault and imposed a $18,000 penalty. A medical claim filed against the city by the keeper was denied.

Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement he was deeply saddened by the latest attack and that a thorough investigation was under way.

After last year's attack, the zoo added customized steel mesh over the bars, built in a feeding shoot and increased the distance between the public and the cats.

Tatiana arrived at the San Francisco Zoo from the Denver Zoo a few years ago, with zoo officials hoping she would mate with a male tiger. Siberian tigers are classified as endangered and there are more than 600 of the animals living in captivity worldwide.

The zoo will be closed Wednesday.

evilelf

This was awful,, but am glad that there were 2 survivors..

V

AlaskaDeb

It sounds like a crazy Stephen King novel...I wonder if there were any cameras or people who saw how the tiger got out....too spooky

Anonymous

It's also kind of spooky that she became so ferocious and attacked around the holidays each year!

~Marin

sueps

This was all over the UK evening news tonight..so tragic....thank goodness the other 2 survived. I thought that Marin ..how strange...and please let me know how she got out...if they ever find out....

Extremely tragic xxx

Anonymous

I just saw the news and they're investigating whether the tiger was purposely let out by someone! How awful that would be!

~Marin

katharine

I just heard a report that the kids were taunting the tiger and that made him attack.

I never heard of a zoo being open on Christmas before.

So sad.

JoanofArdmore

Lots of people like to go to the Zoo on Christmas.(There have to be animal workers there 365 days a year, so why not have the Zoo open?)

I'm very sorry for the man who was killed.And the people who were hurt.

But mostly I'm sorry for Tatiana.

I do not believe she ran amok,(yes every year at Christmas, right).

Maybe there is a sub on around Christmas who "has it in for her".I definately believe this is a human-engineered tragedy.She was lt out, somehow.She was fed something to make her nuts(autopsy will tell) or poked with sticks, etc before being let out.

This is what I believe.

I believe animals are kinder and more decent than humans.And I do not believe poor Tatiana , even if she got out somehow, would hurt people.Wild animals do not hunt or attack unless attacked, or unless they are hungry.

Glad your friend was again, home, Amy.

Your title says it all.Very sad.

NoH8

Joan I'm too most sorry for Tatiana. She was just doing what wild animals do-- acting predatory.

Apparently the "man" who was killed was 17- sad for his family whatever his part may or may not have been.

I haven't gotten in touch with my friend, I left her a message. She's probably stressed and overwhelmed as she was last year, but also mourning Tatiana. We're supposed to see each other later this week. I doubt she'll be able to tell me much because there will be a gag order as they had last year, since there's a criminal investigation and anything she does tell me, I surely won't be able to post on the internet.

I do know the media has all kinds of misinformation about the woman who was attacked last year. She didn't lose all or part of her arm, although it's not working very well and looks a mess.

Last year Tatiana grabbed the keeper through her bars during feeding time-- it was a regular experienced keeper so even though the timing of the incidents is eerie, they are different experiences. In both cases, the cat wasn't doing anything but what you'd expect from a wild animal. Being in a zoo won't make it tame, obviously, even though they may seem tame to the public- particularly a younger person, teen.

It seems like the one killed was near the exhibit and the other 2 were in an eatery close by so it's hard to know if the three were together or it was 1 and 2.

Fitztwins

Amy, the latest is that the boys probably had something to do with it. The three were together.

Check it out:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/27/tiger.attack/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

We can't blame the tiger. She did what is in her nature. That is what makes humans different from Animals. We have self control over our basic instincts.

I am sad that this boy lost his life and heart broken for his family. However, if he had any actions in causing that Tiger from leaving her enclosure (which is what they expect).

I get more angry with people who directly cause their misfortune by their actions. i.e. taunting a wild animal or doing stupid stuff that is dangerous.

Tragic and Sad.

Janis

Edited to add...people are idiots. I hate circus(s) and zoos!

snowyday

I love animal and the news has mentioned that Tatiana was provoked.  I feel terrible for the young men and wish that more people would have more respect for animals.  I feel terrible for animals in zoo's and at a circus.  Even as a child I felt sorry for them and no one in my family could understand why I never enjoyed going to the circus.  I watched a show on Canned hunting, people who think they want an exotice animal buy one when it's tiny and cute and then sell them to people who set up these hunts it's discusting.  They showed one happenening in Texas and I think it should be outlawed in all States and Provinces in N. A. Pearl  Oh I always feel bad for the animals, I'm such a suck.Pearl

Calico

I have witnessed at our zoo a male person with his little daughter crying...while he stood at a huge glass window with our tiger behind...and he made himself big and banged at the glass to get the tiger agressive and stand up against the glass....to prove to his crying kid that he is macho daddy! I alerted a zoo keeper.

Stuff like that happens and at the end, it's the poor tiger that bites the dust.

People don't realize that they are wild animals....too sad....or they have that adrenaline rush making them believe they are bigger....and faster....and they are not.

Anonymous

We were watching this on the news.  And then they showed the dead tiger.

I'm a HUGE animal lover.  And like Jack Hanna from the Columbus Zoo said, they are wild animals and do what wild animals do.  After watching the video Janis posted, and if it's true, the boys caused this animal to be killed.  If the boys did this, what will happen to them?  I'm sure they "lawyered up."  I'm sorry for their injuries and the death of the other young man, but......I'M SO ANGRY!  How stupid can one be!?

Shirley

JoanofArdmore

It is just so wrong!

Those wretched boys hae no respect for animalsd, and now they have caused a huge, marvellous wild tiger to be killed.Yes, Shirley, they will lawyer up, but I'd love SPCA, PETA, every animal-lover everywhere to help the zoo lawyer up, and prosecute thos jerks for murder.

Because that is what it was.

I feel so sorry for poor Tatiana.She was brought there, hoping she would breed.Like a slave.No say in the matter.

It is my animally opinion that since she did attack the keeper last year, that she wasnt happy at that zoo.When she acted out, they should have allowed hert to go back to her home.

(Was she born in Denver, or brought there from..Siberia?)

I disagree with PETA that animals should not be owned.What would they do--wander in the streets, searching for food in dumpsters?

But I do think, with all the recent Pit Bull killings, and the killing of Tatiana, that animals should be respected much more than they are.

In "olden days"it was a fantastic thing to be able to go to a zoo and see wild animals, from other lands, upclose.

Now these kids are so steeped in violent movies and video games seeing a tiger from Siberia means nothing to them.They now have to "sic" the tiger on people, release the tiger, kill the tiger.

For their sick entertainment.

I believe it is time to get tough protecting poor slaves in zoos, (or on fighting dog farms), or just locked in closed cars to die in 100degree heat.And people such as Calico mentioned--THEY should be arrested too.How DARE they?

People go around suing because they burn themselves on hot coffee, and at the same time allowing, or condoning other people's bad actions against animals.Wrong!Sick ethics!

Why dont the suers sue these "men" for disrespect and murder of a wild animal?

OK, I'm shutting it up.

Emelee26

I have to hold back on my opinion of those boys...but I am truly disgusted.

They allegedly found sticks and pinecones in Tatiana's cage that couldn't have gotten there unless people were throwing them at her..what is wrong with people??

I can just imagine the look in my cats eyes if I did something like that to them...fear and sadness - those idiot boys killed their friend and a beautiful creature and they better be held liable!

NoH8

I finally got to talk to my friend yesterday, she's really sad, but glad she's here rather than back home at the zoo. She's so angry at the guys. There was some misinformation in the media, I'm not sure if it was corrected. The zoo had closed at 5:00, and the attacks happened at about 5:00 after the keepers had left. It seems the guys didn't leave when asked. Since they found a shoe inside the lions area and a footprint on the wall, she believes that at least one of the guys was dangling in the case, and tatiana thought they were playing.  I asked her if the police confiscated the cell phones of the guys in case they were making u-tube videos of their stupidity and she wasn't sure. She thinks tatiana might have used the dangling guy(s) as a ladder to climb/jump out.

Tatiana was probably terrified being out of her habitat. When the police arrived they stupidly had on their sirens. Tat was calm next to one of the guys, who she saw as a toy, until the police came out of their cars guns ablazing and that in order to protect herself, she lunged and they responded with gun fire to save themselves. It breaks my heart.

This has the potential to change how zoos house big cats. They may need to start caging them rather than having natural habitat exhibits, which would be so cruel to the cats. The only hope is that the 2 surviving guys come clean about what really happened.

I can't say anything else about what she said, though nothing majorly negative about the zoo practices or keepers. Her friend who was attacked last year is really sad about the cat and doesn't blame Tatiana for either her attack or what happened the other day, which I think says a lot.

Sierra

This is the first I have heard

of the tiger being taunted

I did not have on news

it has been so dreadful

That tiger was a BEAUTIFUL CREATURE

AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED

GOOD HEAVENS.. something seriously wrong

with this picture..

upset beyond words

Sierra

something seriously

amiss

when they can not protect these

creatures

they should be in the wild anyway

Diana_B

I agree with Sierra: how can zoos be justified?



I think they're an awful environment for animals. Do we really have any right to imprison them in this fashion?



I didn't feel sorry for Roy when he was mauled either. I mean, what business did he have making his living "training" a tiger?

NoH8

I agree with you Sierra and Darya. I won't go to zoos, even though one of my best friends works for one.

I didn't feel sorry Roy either. One of my (other) friends has a statement for that, she calls it "too stupid to live". She lives in holland and one such woman who was a "patron" of a certain big cat hid in the zoo after closing, then climbed into the cage to hang out with the lion (or tiger, I can't remember). Of course she was mauled to death. WTF was she thinking. That's when my friend coined "too stupid to live."

Anonymous

I am truelly an animal lover.  So this story really saddens me.  Yet - I have always been one that enjoyed going to the zoo.  I think what changed my mind about zoos was seeing the Polar Bears pacing - from anxiety at being in such a small space.

I think Tigers are beautiful animals.  Of course Im a cat person.  But they are wild animals and no one should be taunting them.  Im so glad I didnt see the picture of Tatiana after she was shot. 

So very sad.

Nicki

Sierra

Morning:



Chemosabi: Yes, you mention polar bears

another one, I have seen at our zoo

in past years... they just pace



While, I have in past years visited

the zoo, am changing recently, just

do not feel the same way about

viewing the animals there



O/T In fact, took a friend of mine

to the falconry centre, and was there

10 minutes, told him, I would like to leave

mind those birds are injured, but they also

breed them



Darya... O/T.. Happy New Year to you

I'm heading to the beaches today

my fav area.. (birthday) Be well



My favorite poem is:



TIGER TIGER BURNING BRIGHT..



Best to all

Diana_B

I tend to think the tiger that mauled Roy was finally fighting back!



Somehow it reminds me of how people are always telling me that I shouldn't let my cat out because he might be run over. Some even call it animal abuse. I tell them that I don't "let" my cat out but that he "goes" out and that there's nothing I can do about it, not being master of the universe. When I lived in an apartment he paced for hours, but now that I live in a house he's much calmer.



Sierra - that's a good idea - I'm enjoying this warming spell too. Instead of decorations I put fresh red and white roses in my xmas tree this year (it looked fantastic!!) and I'm going to stroll to the flower store to get new ones that will last through the new year.

Anonymous

JMO - I have never been able to tolerate/appreciate animals in captivity. Especially birds! Sniff, sniff!

And don't even get me started on Circuses that exploit animals...

NoH8

Oh gosh, I hear you about circuses.

Anonymous

I read that the wall for the tiger enclosure was 4 feet too short, looks like SF Zoo is in trouble for that.

San Diego Zoo has a nice habitat for its animals, yes captivity, but you should see the one for the hippos!!  It's a huge huge pool with tons of foliage!