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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: Royal Wulff
Its not that they deserved to die, but they got what was coming to them. IF they taunted the animal. I see....geez.....taunt an animal and die and you got what's coming to ya.
Next time a pit bull mauls it's owner and the exterminate all pit bulls crowd comes out with long knives this thread will provide lots of counter balance..lol
401
posted on
12/28/2007 8:00:56 AM PST
by
wardaddy
(I have come to the conclusion that even though imperfect....Thompson is my choice by far.)
To: Girlene
Religion, however, is required to place the worth of people over animals. Judeo-Christian in particular.
402
posted on
12/28/2007 8:02:04 AM PST
by
wardaddy
(I have come to the conclusion that even though imperfect....Thompson is my choice by far.)
To: E. Pluribus Unum
The father wasn't grieving. He was going "Ka-ching!" that is completely unrelated to your comment and my response
I suppose the father's intent to sue the zoo is an additional reason this tiger teaser had to go...
403
posted on
12/28/2007 8:03:45 AM PST
by
wardaddy
(I have come to the conclusion that even though imperfect....Thompson is my choice by far.)
To: Fawn
I know you’re not making it up, I remember there was quite a bit of controversy, and remember the cool photos of him with the tiger. But I also think I remember that he had lost the tips of all or some of his fingers from Bobo chewing on them. I thought it was a very sad story, although I also remember the fear in folks when the tiger was loose and no one knew where he was.
If people are going to keep animals like tigers, they have to realize that if they get loose there is a good possibility they will be killed. They are beautiful animals but they don’t make good pets.
I know you and I often disagree on animal issues, but I think we both agree that we love them and want to see them well maintained if they are kept by people. Have a nice new year. :)
susie
404
posted on
12/28/2007 8:22:16 AM PST
by
brytlea
(amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
To: Fawn
Thanks for the article. I’m sure the guy was scared. I suspect I would panic if I saw a tiger and thought he saw me! And with your nickname, you should be VERY careful around tigers! ;)
susie
405
posted on
12/28/2007 8:24:11 AM PST
by
brytlea
(amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
To: REPANDPROUDOFIT
I read that there were no surveillance cameras at that location. Or maybe I heard it on Foxnews.
susie
406
posted on
12/28/2007 8:25:06 AM PST
by
brytlea
(amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
To: biscuit jane
I think it's funny that they keep using the word "taunt". None of the definitions I see indicate anything you would do to an animal, ie:
1. to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock. 2. to provoke by taunts; twit. noun 3. an insulting gibe or sarcasm; scornful reproach or challenge.
What did they do, tell the tiger that stripes around the body make her look fat?
I think tease or provoke would be better words. This is not aimed at you, the media has used that word in every article I've seen. But I think it's not possible to actually *taunt* an animal.
susie
407
posted on
12/28/2007 8:30:31 AM PST
by
brytlea
(amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
To: wardaddy
Found this latest article interesting.
Cops: Tiger Attack Victim Helped Friend
"The last minutes of a 17-year-old boy's life were spent trying to save his friend from the tiger that was mauling him at the San Francisco Zoo, only to have the animal turn on him, police and family members said.
Carlos Sousa Jr. and his friend's brother desperately tried to distract the 350-pound Siberian tiger, but the big cat instead came after Sousa.
"He didn't run. He tried to help his friend, and it was him who ended up getting it the worst," the teen's father, Carlos Sousa Sr., said Thursday after meeting with police.
The heroic portrait of Sousa and a timeline of the dramatic Christmas Day attack emerged as officials revealed that the tiger's escape from its enclosure may have been aided by walls that were well below the height recommended by the accrediting agency for the nation's zoos."
[snip]"Brothers Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, were at San Francisco General Hospital with severe bite and claw wounds. Their names were provided by hospital and law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the family had not yet given permission to release their names.
After interviewing the brothers, police said Kulbir Dhaliwal was the animal's first victim.
As the tiger clawed and bit him, Sousa and the younger brother yelled in hopes of scaring it off him, police said. The cat then went for Sousa, slashing his neck as the brothers ran to a zoo cafe for help.
After killing the teenager, the tiger followed a trail of blood left by Kulbir Dhaliwal about 300 yards to the cafe, where it mauled both men, police said."
F our officers who had already discovered Sousa's body then arrived and found the cat sitting next to one of the bloodied brothers, police Chief Heather Fong said. The victim yelled, "Help me! Help me!" and the animal resumed its attack, Fong said."
[snip] "Police have not addressed whether the victims had teased the tiger.
On Thursday, Fong denied earlier reports that police were looking into the possibility that the victims had dangled a leg or other body part over the edge of the moat, after a shoe and blood was found inside the enclosure. No shoe was found inside, but a shoeprint was found on the railing of the fence surrounding the enclosure, and police are checking it against the shoes of the three victims, she said."
408
posted on
12/28/2007 9:04:42 AM PST
by
Girlene
To: Red_Devil 232
I guess this is another lesson is “be careful who you piss off”. Because they might get pissed back.
To: brytlea
Yes, I’m careful around tigers.....lol. Happy New Year.
410
posted on
12/28/2007 10:13:14 AM PST
by
Fawn
(Will a REAL CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE please enter the race!!)
To: wardaddy
I understand your point, even if we disagree. I was being snarky for the most part—but still feel that taunting a big, sharp-clawed, many toothed jungle cat is just asking for trouble. I don’t prefer humans to die, generally speaking, but Siberian tigers are rare and endangered both in the wild and in captivity. Hence its a damn shame that this one had to be shot. I agree with the decision to shoot it, but its still a shame. As for the young men? If the facts come out that they let the tiger out or were otherwise responsible for its escape, then my sympathy level goes down accordingly. People need to take responsibility for their actions. And these were not kids, as first reported, but grown men, albeit young. Sorry, but that’s the way I feel.
411
posted on
12/28/2007 2:58:42 PM PST
by
ariamne
(Proud shieldmaiden of the infidel--never forget, never forgive 9/11)
To: Elsie
And they weren’t even teen, except one, and barely that. 19 and 20 are considered legal adults.
412
posted on
12/28/2007 3:00:20 PM PST
by
ariamne
(Proud shieldmaiden of the infidel--never forget, never forgive 9/11)
To: REPANDPROUDOFIT
Maybe you haven't noticed that these cameras are EVERYWHERE!Maybe so, but they're not in the zoo where I work! Only the gorilla area is monitored simply because it's a large naturally planted area and you can't always find them from the look-out areas. They used to do behavior studies on them and it's hard to get your data if you can't see them!
To: ariamne
People need to take responsibility for their actions.In TODAY's America?
My house washed away - build me a new one!
My kids can't read - you come and mentor them!
My ass is too fat - let's all sue MickeyD's!
I don't take care of my families medical needs - you pay for some insurance for me...
Now my mood is set for the rest of the day! Drat!
414
posted on
12/29/2007 6:21:48 AM PST
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: brytlea
I read that there were no surveillance cameras at that location. Obviously this was not a BRITISH zoo!
415
posted on
12/29/2007 6:23:28 AM PST
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Girlene
[snip]"Brothers Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, were at San Francisco General Hospital with severe bite and claw wounds. Their names were provided by hospital and law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the family had not yet given permission to release their names. If you're 23, I think your 'parents' no longer have ANY say in the matter.
416
posted on
12/29/2007 6:26:01 AM PST
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Elsie
Sorry! But you are not alone, many of us feel the same way you do. I hope that is of some comfort.
417
posted on
12/29/2007 8:03:46 AM PST
by
ariamne
(Proud shieldmaiden of the infidel--never forget, never forgive 9/11)
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