Kulwant Dhaliwal, left, Paul Dhaliwal, right
Posted on 01/10/2008 6:05:07 PM PST by Mr. Brightside
Tiger Victim's Mom Talks to Survivor
5 hours ago
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The mother of the teen killed by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo says one of two friends injured in the attack told her that none of them had done anything to taunt the animal.
Marilza Sousa spoke with Paul Dhaliwal by phone on Monday — their first conversation since the Christmas Day attack, the San Jose Mercury News reported Thursday.
Sousa said Dhaliwal, 19, told her the tiger jumped over the fence while the trio was talking and tore a long gash in his skull before wrapping its jaws around the throat of her 17-year-old son, Carlos Sousa Jr., killing him instantly, the newspaper said.
****
"Did you stick anything through the fence or taunt the tiger?" Sousa said she asked Paul Dhaliwal.
"No," he reportedly said. "We never tried to taunt the animal. We were talking, laughing, walking, nothing else."
****
The Sousa family had said they called the Dhaliwals several times since the attack trying to learn what happened, but their messages were not returned.
Marilza Sousa said Paul Dhaliwal apologized Monday for not calling sooner. "I didn't know what to say," she says he told her.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
‘We didn’t do nothing’ - Especially when it counted...
I suppose you would have picked up your injured brother with one hand and killed the 350 pound tiger with your other hand, while giving life-saving CPR to your friend whose throat was slashed and died instantly.
You da’ man!
Based on your grammar,punk, that must include paying attention in school too.
Thank you!
But please don’t upset Mr. Brightside, who is completely obsessed with being convinced these punks did nothing wrong and that the zoo is completely responsible for everything.......despite the fact the only information he has comes from newspaper accounts.
I have said if the the brothers were drunk and under the influence of marijuana, as reports have claimed, that they should be charged.
But (aside from the fact they were mauled by a tiger due to zoo negligence) they are also victims of a smear campaign by city officials at the zoo and police department.
Many on this forum also blamed them for thier race and (supposed) religion. One of the first posters here called them “muzzie cowards” for not rescuing their friends body from a Siberian tiger. Others wondered if Sousa was here legally. One of the last comments to me claimed that he found it hard to believe them because they are minorities.
Well said! He also thinks its fine for children to be brats at the zoo & bug the animals that are there to be looked at & enjoyed not taunted. I still say this story stinks & I doubt the real story will come to light.
I hope the zoo makes changes so the animals are safe from people who think its fine to taunt animals. They need video cameras & more guards to bounce out people who can't stop themselves from being morons.
Kulwant Dhaliwal, left, Paul Dhaliwal, right
zoo ping
And the bigger issue is, again, the lack of personal responsibility. If a criminal leads police on a 120 mph chase, people like Brightside support the criminal’s complaint when the police are aggressive in subduing him later. No regard for the police life, and not an ounce of consideration given to their fear and the adrenaline they might be pumping after a 20 minute chase at life-threatening speeds. Brightside would say that the police should have been more skilled at shooting out the tires of the criminal’s car to keep him from putting himself and others in jeopardy.
You are right, this story does stink and the full story will never be told. And an institution will take a hit, and the taxpayers will fund the hit, and some assholes will walk away with a settlement, after causing the situation in the first place.
The police say there is no evidence the boys 'taunted' the animals. Other than one witness stating she saw them "roar" at the lions, the police have nothing.
You think the enclosures should only be safe enough to hold a tiger that is not "roared" at?
And as long as some kid doesn't "kaw" at the eagle, the cage should keep it in. Right?
Also, the zoo can't be held responsible for any rattlesnake bites if someone "hisses" at the snakes.
I'd hate to live next to a prison you design. "The prison is secure enough to hold in even the most violent prisoner... as long as some kid outside doesn't tease him."
Lack of personal responsibility is a two way street.
Zoo officials were warned several times the enclosure was dangerous. Tigers had jumped the moat for decades.
Two years ago a zoo employee complained that tigers were nearly getting out and asked for an inspection by the feds. But zoo officials did nothing.
So yes. Personal responsibility is HUGE here. And zoo officials need to come clean.
Looks like the tiger roughed up Paul’s jacket.
I would hate to live next door to you. You seem to think its dandy to go to a zoo & not enjoy the animals. You want to hiss, caw and roar etc. I think a zoo is a place to go admire & respect animals. They are there to be looked at & observed. Not to be made fun of. If I did have a zoo you wouldn't be welcome.
Goodness don't tell me you now want to go taunt inmates at prisons too? You are just too funny Mr B.S. Shaking my head again at you...Didn't anyone teach you not to taunt animals?
I still say the zoo is at fault because they didn't make sure their animals weren't protected from people who think animals are there to be taunted. I feel badly anyone was hurt or died. And yes in the long run the taxpayers take the hit. People who can't behave at the zoo do not belong there. If you can't teach a child to behave or you can't behave the zoo ought to bounce you out just like a bar would.
Double negative. They sure did do something, they just aren’t admitting it. Could hurt their chances with that lawsuit, you know.
I think something went on but since there are no video cameras it won’t be proved. I really must be naive because I thought you aren’t supposed to taunt animals, in a zoo or domestic animals. I must be very strange hmm?
I hold to my original contention. Guys that age do not travel in groups that far just to go to the zoo on a Sunday evening because it’s a fun, wholesome, family thing to do. They were looking for trouble and got more than they barginned for.
However I am mad this zoo doesn't protect it's animals better. I would think all zoo's would have cameras & enough personal to man the zoo properly & make sure the animals are safe.
My children by far were not angels but they all have been taught to respect animals & not mistreat them. And they all behaved when we were out in public. I don't understand people who think its cute to taunt an animal.
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