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Human Role Not Ruled Out in Tiger Attack
MyWay/Drudge ^ | 12-26-2007 | robertson

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 ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: humancompassion; maul; sf; tiger; zoo
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To: Mamzelle

make that a 300 lb taunted cat on andrenaline .

The autopsy will show the kids injuries and that should tell more of what happened.


141 posted on 12/27/2007 1:03:49 PM PST by biscuit jane
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To: Mamzelle
see post 110. I adjusted my theory. :o)
142 posted on 12/27/2007 1:05:46 PM PST by Gator101 (Don't tase me, Bro!)
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To: wardaddy
But Jack Hanna, former director of the Columbus Zoo and a frequent guest on TV, said such a leap would be an unbelievable feat

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........

143 posted on 12/27/2007 1:05:46 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Visions of sugarplums dancing in your head are probably caused by bad drugs.....)
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To: Mamzelle

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.


144 posted on 12/27/2007 1:05:49 PM PST by biscuit jane
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To: Hot Tabasco

Oh my gosh, you’re dissin’ Jack Hannah!
susie


145 posted on 12/27/2007 1:08:02 PM PST by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: biscuit jane
And I also read that law enforcement doesn?t carry tranqs.

And they ruled out "tazing" the critter pretty earlier in the game, too I bet!
146 posted on 12/27/2007 1:08:11 PM PST by RedMonqey
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To: brytlea
Oh my gosh, you’re dissin’ Jack Hannah!

Well, he ain't no Marlin Perkins.

147 posted on 12/27/2007 1:09:05 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: savedbygrace
Do they deserve death? Decidedly not.

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.

148 posted on 12/27/2007 1:09:52 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: Gator1

Just read your theories...I didn’t know someone else had been discussing this...former kitty owner too


149 posted on 12/27/2007 1:10:55 PM PST by antivenom (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much damn space!)
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To: RedMonqey

Don’t taze me bro ...


150 posted on 12/27/2007 1:11:39 PM PST by biscuit jane (couldn't help m'se'f)
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To: savedbygrace

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.


What about knocking on aquarium glass?


151 posted on 12/27/2007 1:12:05 PM PST by Senator Goldwater
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To: wardaddy
Good comment from Joel at LGF:

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.

152 posted on 12/27/2007 1:12:16 PM PST by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
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To: Senator Goldwater

I once glared at an ant farm and lived to tell the tale.


153 posted on 12/27/2007 1:12:48 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Well, he ain't no Marlin Perkins.

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.

154 posted on 12/27/2007 1:14:05 PM PST by Gator101 (Don't tase me, Bro!)
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To: Gator101

lol


155 posted on 12/27/2007 1:14:35 PM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: atomic conspiracy
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 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. ;~)

156 posted on 12/27/2007 1:16:24 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: Tijeras_Slim
I once glared at an ant farm and lived to tell the tale.

Think so huh? They are laying in wait...

157 posted on 12/27/2007 1:17:05 PM PST by MARTIAL MONK
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To: Gator101

Gator101, please show some respect! Marlin does the tigers, Jim wrestles the anaconda.

158 posted on 12/27/2007 1:17:32 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Gator101; Tijeras_Slim
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.

And Steve Irwin would have tackled it and wrestled it to the ground with a big smile on his face ;~) "Isn't she gorgeous"!

159 posted on 12/27/2007 1:18:53 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: Fawn

“Totally unnecessary.”

I agree with you about the South Florida/Tarzan cat.


160 posted on 12/27/2007 1:20:21 PM PST by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL (****************************Stop Continental Drift**)
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