Posted on 01/17/2008 7:08:12 PM PST by yorkie
POSTED: 11:56 am PST December 28, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco woman has said she warned the city zoo more than 10 years ago that the safety walls at the tiger grotto weren’t high enough.
She said she was afraid for her safety and that of her 3-year-old 10 years ago.
“This whole image came back to me in my brain and I was sick to my stomach actually,” said Marian Roth-Cramer.
She says she saw a tiger, housed in the same grotto as Tatiana, the one that mauled three people this week, jump dangerously close to her little boy.
The animal left the yard, leapt crossed the moat, and got a paw up on the grassy area by the fence where the public stands.
“I saw the tiger leap off of that and disappear,” Roth-Cramer said. “Then I saw a paw on top of the grass, which was maybe 4 or 5 feet in front of my son.”
Roth-Cramer said she wrote a letter to the zoo, but never heard back.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945827/posts
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Here are two more accounts of tigers jumping that moat:
****
But escaping from an enclosure at the zoo is not beyond the ability of a Siberian tiger, according to a retired longtime keeper and other zoo veterans interviewed by The Chronicle.
And many people who worked at the zoo knew it, the keeper said.
The keeper, who spent decades at the zoo and asked not to be publicly identified, said he got the word about Siberian tigers - and the apparently inadequate 12 1/2-foot-high moat wall that protects the public from them - in a most dramatic fashion, not long after he began working at the zoo.
“I was putting a sign up in front of the tiger exhibit, with my butt hanging over the edge,” said the former keeper. “The cat was pacing back and forth at the bottom of the grotto.”
The keeper said one of his more seasoned colleagues happened by, grabbed him by the belt loop and jerked him back, away from the edge.
“He shared the secret that people knew - the cat could jump up and take me down,” the keeper said.
And well known in zoo lore is the story about an entomologist who, as a teenage science student in the late 1950s, visited the tiger grotto with former zoo director Carey Baldwin to see if the enclosure was secure enough to contain the tiger.
“Mr. Baldwin had been told by one of the zookeepers that the tiger might be able to escape by jumping across the moat and onto the flowerbed between the public guard rail and the moat,” the entomologist, David Rentz, recalled in a posting on his Web log.
“We got a large piece of meat and tied it to a long bamboo pole and approached the tiger enclosure. We were at the other end of the bamboo pole - about 15 feet away from the meat. Baldwin held the pole at the edge of our side of the moat. Once the tiger saw it, he literally flew across the moat from his position on the other side, grabbed the meat, and sprung back to the grotto all in one graceful movement.
“It happened so quickly that it was hard to believe what we had seen,” Rentz said Saturday in a telephone interview from his home in Queensland, Australia. “It scared the hell out of me. It scared the hell out of both of us.
“Then Mr. Baldwin closed the tiger’s access to the outside - supposedly forever,” Rentz wrote on his Web log.
****
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/29/MN00U6PR7.DTL&feed=rss.news
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Plus there is a new report of a (albeit disgruntled) employee who reported the same thing.
Guess you missed that I was being sarcastic....didn’t think I needed to add a “/s”.
: )
Yeah. I missed the /sarc.
Posted too fast. :)
“it’s all good”
: )
If true, that is very shoddy, and perhaps heads should roll at the zoo. But, I would still not award the “victims” who were mauled a single cent.
I don’t see how the zoo can escape responsibility.
If a semi-truck jumps the curb and runs over 3 pedestrians, the trucking company has liability, even if the pedestrians on the sidewalk were drunk and shouting/waving hands at the driver.
The company can’t credibly claim that the driver had never had an accident in 40 years, when it is obvious that he jumped the curb in this instance and ran people down.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956038/posts
Police: Victim drunk during tiger attack
Yahoo/AP ^ | Fri Jan 18 | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955666/posts
Police: Tiger attack victim was drinking, admitted taunting
CNN ^ | 1/18/2008 | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1955646/posts
San Francisco Zoo Tiger Attack Victim Admits Drinking, Taunting Animal, Police Say
Foxnews.com ^ | Friday, January 18, 2008 | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1955525/posts
Police: Zoo survivor told of standing on railing and yelling at tiger
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | January 17, 2008 | Jaxon Van Derbeken
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955200/posts
Police won’t say whether evidence shows tiger was taunted
CNN ^ | 1/17/2008 | AP
http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1954756/posts
San Francisco police reviewing tiger victims’ cell phones, car
Mercury News ^ | 1/16/2008 | Leslie Griffy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1952555/posts
(San Francisco) Zoo safety questioned again after leopard, polar bear nearly escape
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/12/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1951779/posts
Tiger Victim’s Mom Talks to Survivor (’We didn’t do nothing’)
AP ^ | 1/10/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1951065/posts
Sam Singer Biography (SF Zoo Spokesman Is Democratic Operative)
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/9/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1950605/posts
Brothers hurt by tiger among mourners for teen killed in attack
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/8/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1950204/posts
SF Zoo Tiger Attack: 30 Memorable Quotes
DBKP ^ | 1/8/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1949987/posts
Brothers injured by tiger will not face charges, investigator (”Cooperative” w/ police)
CNN ^ | 1/7/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1949151/posts
Zoo Visitor Says Men Roared At Tiger
WMAQ ^ | 1/6/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1948881/posts
Brothers keeping phones to selves during tiger case
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/05/08 | Linda Goldston
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1948787/posts
Using ‘taunting’ as an excuse for tiger’s attack is pathetic
Venon Boradcaster ^ | 1/3/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1948680/posts
In ambulance, survivors of S.F. tiger attack made pact of silence
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | January 5, 2008 | Jaxon Van Derbeken
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1948534/posts
Pair who survived tiger attack reportedly withholding photos from police
Mercury News ^ | January 4,2008 | Mercury News
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948319/posts
Save the Tiger
American Spectator ^ | 04 jan 07 | George Neumayr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1948192/posts
No Slingshots at Scene of Tiger Attack
ABC News ^ | 1/4/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1947653/posts
Police examining items for signs tiger was taunted
CNN ^ | 1/3/2008 | CNN
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1947648/posts
S.F. Zoo visitor saw 2 victims of tiger attack teasing lions
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Patricia Yollin, Tanya Schevitz, Kevin Fagan,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1946954/posts
Tiger Attack Victims Hire High Profile Lawyer
Newsroom ^ | 1/1/08
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1946724/posts
TIGER BROTHERS HAD SLINGSHOTS
New York Post ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1946203/posts
Father of boy killed by tiger says he’d like to hear from survivors
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | December 30, 2007 | Suzanne Espinosa Solis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1946013/posts
Transcripts Show Chaos of Tiger Attack
Associated Press ^ | Dec 30, 2007 | RON HARRIS
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945889/posts
Tiger attack survivors ‘sorry’ they couldn’t save mauled friend
NY Daily News ^ | 12/30/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945827/posts
SF Woman Warned Zoo 10 Years Ago Tiger Wall Not High Enough
KNTV ^ | 12/29/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945771/posts
ZOO THOUGHT TIGER ATTACK WAS FAKE (And Refused Entry To Police)
NY Post ^ | 12/29/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945652/posts
First zoo worker to report victims’ tiger claim didn’t believe him (He’s “crazy”)
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 12/29/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945647/posts
Tiger tragedy brothers’ ‘don’t talk’ pact
NY Daily News ^ | 12/28/07 | Tamer El-Ghobashy, Soo Youn and Leo Standora
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945392/posts
Zoo could face charges, fines in tiger attack
msnbc ^ | Dec. 28, 2007 | a.p.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945391/posts
Wall of tiger’s S.F. Zoo pen too short (Tiger’s victims, the brothers, have criminal record)
San Jose mercury News ^ | 12/28/07 | By John Woolfolk, Dana Hulland Julia Prodis Sulek
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945281/posts
Police: Teen died saving friend from tiger
cnn.com ^ | Dec 28, 2007 | AP
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945139/posts
Zoo Director Says Tiger Wall Was Low (Moat Was Empty)
AP ^ | 12/28/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944897/posts
Tiger grotto wall shorter than thought, may have contributed to escape and fatal attack (SF Zoo)
sfgate.com ^ | December 27, 2007
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944793/posts
Human Role Not Ruled Out in Tiger Attack
MyWay/Drudge ^ | 12-26-2007 | robertson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944789/posts
San Jose father incredulous his son could have taunted deadly tiger (Photo of tiger grotto)
Oakland Tribune ^ | 12/27/2007 | Lisa Fernandez, Mark Gomez and Julia Prodis Sulek
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944630/posts
Tiger Mauling Victim Identified As San Jose Teen
(AP) ^ | Dec 26, 2007 9:05 pm US/Pacific Digg | Facebook | E-mail Close WindowE-mail This PageTiger Mauling
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944521/posts
Police: San Francisco Tiger Attack May Have Been Provoked
Foxnews.com ^ | 12/26/2007 | Staff
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1944226/posts
Tiger escapes cage in San Francisco Zoo, kills one
AP ^ | December 25, 2007
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1757597/posts
Tiger Mauls Trainer In Front Of Crowd At S.F. Zoo
WFRV.COM ^ | 22 DECEMBER 2006 | AP
Wow, Rte! I am impressed! I had no idea there was so much posted here, on this story!
Good job!
Amazing, isn’t it?
I just went looking for the original thread and realized how many I had posted on concerning this topic alone - so I did my proverbial “link round-up” that I often do on some of our long-term subjects here, mostly crimes and mysteries (not political, except some terror-related).
Makes for a good reference when needed.
But, all the work, of copying and pasting, one at a time - that must have taken a LOT of time. Thank you for your informative links and your diligence.
YW!
Damn you’re good! Thanks!
Thanks and YW!
David Rentz is still very much in business and has an incredibly incriminating observation from 1959. The Zoo knew then that tigers could escape! And nothing has really been done. I must however give credit to past zoo keepers Alcaraz and Castor for enacting at least some counter measures such as filling the moat with water, as well as identifying aggressive cats and keeping them out of the grotto. But alas, when they retired, all was forgotten. The moat was drained, and aggressive cats were allowed back in.
They did not go down into the grotto. Please familiarize yourself with the geometry of the enclosure.
Standing in the short bamboo, between the chain link fence and the lip of the grotto. Interestingly, one of the Dhawals claimed the tiger came from the large bush / small tree out in the center portion of the viewing overlook, same place Castor and Alcaraz found the Bengal back in ‘59. Can you say, systemic design flaw? The rail / fence they were standing on was probably the chain link short fence. They were also probably standing in the bamboo trying to snap pics of the tigers. They did just like one does photographing a pet, yell, move around, try to get them to look. While immature, it certainly is not criminal in any normal sense. What is criminal is 40 plus years of knowlege that a tiger could jump up to “human level.”
I didn’t say they did. I am familiar with it now, but had a mistaken mental pic of it - we’ve been following this for 3 weeks and there have been lots of bad descriptions.
I don’t have cable and don’t have video online, so have had to look at diagrams and stills. No need to be nasty to me - have you bothered to use the reference links I provided?
Wow. Nice work.
Exactly.
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