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 ...
There was a leg in that area and that tiger took a shoe as a souvenir...
“According to the article, the enclosure was built in 1940, which might well explain the inadequate idiot-proofing.”
Sadly it took 67 years to grow the right idiot that could exploit the enclosure’s weakness... !
rebommend not REQUIRED big difference
I think there were four police present at the time, from most events down here in LA that means one lucky shot to the head, maybe a couple into flanks, and 40-plus dead trees, wounded rocks, and new vents in the snack stand.
Major cities consider it a gift to the poor, and is usually free that day
Major cities consider it a gift to the poor, and is usually free that day
To taunt a hippopotamous?
Oh okay free admission because it is CHristmas.
YUP
I am petty sure that here in Houston it is a free day...may be that way in SF...
See post 169.
See post 169.
And female forest rangers use tranquilizer guns to take down Grizzly Bears for health checks and fitting radio collars, imagine that? As for taking down a tiger with a pistol I know a lot of hunters who would take a pass on that as too dangerous. I'll make the same point as you do regarding the tranquilizer guns, unless you are very lucky the animal is going to live for a time and make your life very interesting. By lucky I mean a heart, brain, or spinal cord shot. I seen white tail deer shot through the "boiler room" with a 30-06 run for a couple of miles. I seen others drop where they stood. That's not a chance you want to take by being under gunned.
Regards,
GtG
It's an unpleasant reality, and applies to 'innocent by insanity' defenses as well, but regardless of the 'how', it is society's obligation to put an end to the threat.
The cat was, in fact, innocent; she was simply being a cat.
The cat was innocent; she was not able to choose where she was when the kids showed up, she was not able to rely on protection from others.
The cat was innocent; she relied on instinctive defense measures - attack if you cannot retreat - generally good advice for humans as well.
But ultimately, judging an angry, blooded, tiger to be a threat to additional citizens, and themselves, the cops had no choice. Besides, much like the cat, they also acted on instincts developed in the course of their duties - difference is that we license police to use force - zoo animals don't have that benefit.
At close range?
Never mind all the silly arguments about what was more dangerous that what. The fact is the cops have to deal with whatever they're called in to deal with and they did. Listening to you, it's unlikely the cat is even dead. Well, it is dead, and they shot it. What are we debating?
Those two will be facing homicide charges, and I'm pretty sure the police knows how to get to the truth in such cases. These guys had ho chance to get their stories straight, and even if they did they couldn't possibly think of every detail.
As if the police are “trained” for irrational tiger behavior....
As if the police are “trained” for irrational tiger behavior....
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