Posted on 12/27/2007 10:18:04 AM PST by wardaddy
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The big cat exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo was cordoned off as a crime scene Wednesday as investigators tried to determine whether a Siberian tiger that killed a visitor escaped from its high-walled pen on its own or got help from someone, inadvertent or otherwise.
Police shot the 300-pound animal to death after a Christmas Day rampage that began when the tiger escaped from an enclosure surrounded by what zoo officials said are an 18-foot wall and a 20-foot moat. Two brothers who also were visiting the zoo were severely mauled.
Police Chief Heather Fong said the department has opened a criminal investigation to "determine if there was human involvement in the tiger getting out or if the tiger was able to get out on its own."
Police said they have not ruled anything out, including whether the escape was the result of carelessness or a deliberate act.
(AP) Tatiana, a female Siberian tiger that killed one person and injured two others, is seen in the lion... Full Image
Fong said officers were gathering evidence from the tiger's enclosure as well as accounts from witnesses and others.
One zoo official insisted the tiger did not get out through an open door and must have climbed or leaped out. But Jack Hanna, former director of the Columbus Zoo and a frequent guest on TV, said such a leap would be an unbelievable feat, and "virtually impossible."
"There's something going on here. It just doesn't feel right to me," he said. "It just doesn't add up to me."
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
make that a 300 lb taunted cat on andrenaline .
The autopsy will show the kids injuries and that should tell more of what happened.
I had a cat once whose favorite napping spot was on top of my book case, just over 6' high.......
I'm inclined to believe the tiger escaped on his own. Just because Jack Hanna doesn't think its possible doesn't make it fact.........In fact, I think ole Jack is nothing more than a made for TV animal handler who leaves the heavy stuff to the real experts........
Maybe the most telling evidence is the silence of the two survivors...
If all was innocent they’d be inviting the reporters into their hospital room.
Oh my gosh, you’re dissin’ Jack Hannah!
susie
Well, he ain't no Marlin Perkins.
Curious point of view given your tagline (saved by grace) For "deserves" often has little to do with it. Many who die deserve life, and many who live deserve death.
There's a difference between the 'justice' doled out by a circumstance people bring on themselves and the cold retribution of thoughtful civilized punishment, and don't confuse the two. I wouldn't punish people with death for driving a car into a raging flooded river either, but sometimes the river doles out it's own punishment does it not? So in a sense, if they taunted the tiger, they deserved what happened, or at least, what happened was predictable.
Just read your theories...I didn’t know someone else had been discussing this...former kitty owner too
Don’t taze me bro ...
Do the guys deserve punishment for taunting a caged cat? Yes.
Do they deserve death? Decidedly not.
If you really think they do, then you must immediately begin lobbying for a new federal law that imposes the death penalty on anyone who taunts a caged animal at any time.
How soon before Law & Order does one of the ripped from the headlines stories about it. Of course the perpetrators will be evil Republicans.
I can see it now. The perps would be either drunken students from a fly-over Baptist college, in the big city for a senior trip, or deranged GIs just back from Iraq.
I once glared at an ant farm and lived to tell the tale.
Marlin Perkins would have had Jim Fowler climb in there to test how high a tiger could jump when taunted and described the ensuing action to us all.
lol
I don't know if L&O will do it, I don't watch the show often enough to predict it. But I will say it's plausible South Park will cover it in an upcoming episode... only they'll probably let Steve Irwin tell us whose fault it really is, with a stingray tangling from his chest. ;~)
Think so huh? They are laying in wait...
Gator101, please show some respect! Marlin does the tigers, Jim wrestles the anaconda.
And Steve Irwin would have tackled it and wrestled it to the ground with a big smile on his face ;~) "Isn't she gorgeous"!
“Totally unnecessary.”
I agree with you about the South Florida/Tarzan cat.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.