Posted on 12/30/2021 10:46:00 AM PST by DFG
An endangered tiger was shot and killed in its zoo enclosure after biting a cleaner who had entered an 'unauthorized area' next to its cage.
Deputies arrived at Naples Zoo in Florida to find the animal with the man's arm in its mouth and said they were 'forced to shoot' to free him.
The maintenance worker was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries.
Collier County Sheriff's Office confirmed the victim was a man with a third-party cleaning service contracted by the zoo.
Reports suggest the Malayan tiger, named as eight-year-old Eko, had grabbed the man's arm after he reached through a fence barrier in an attempt to pet or feed the animal.
The sheriff's office said the first deputy on the scene tried to get the tiger to release the man after kicking the enclosure.
But when the tiger wouldn't release the man's arm, the officer was forced to shoot.
The tiger retreated into the back of the enclosure and was later pronounced dead.
A police spokesperson said: 'The first deputy on scene kicked the enclosure and tried to get the tiger to release the man's arm from its mouth but the deputy was forced to shoot the animal.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
the zoo folks should have the tranq guns handy
folks overseeing the dangerous animals should be able to access them in emergency situations
i admit it may not be able to work in all scenarios but in those deemed it could work it should be tried
not the animals fault
Disagree, this was stupidity, the Tiger did not have to die in this instance.
The person must not have seen the video of the tiger jumping up to elephant head height to take a swat at a guy.
Tigers are really strong and fast.
It’s another reason I never really have been a fan of zoos in the first place.
Pretty much. Darwin award candidate right there
I'm betting there's more to this story.
Post of the day winner.
I don't think deputies carry tranquilizer rifles in their squad car. Besides, how long do you think it takes before the medicine takes effect?
Here's an incident where the zoo did exactly what you are suggesting:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/palm-beach-zoo-defends-decision-tranquilize-tiger-after-fatal-attack-n564436
Tiger being tiger.
It looks like a time thing....Cat dead...Too bad. Never believed in zoos. It’s cruel.
By all means give the tiger more time to rip the idiot’s arm off.
Uh, that is what tigers do fool
Everyone failed except the tiger who behaved like a tiger 🤪
“Lower IQ falls for the “Darwin Award” nonsense.”
It isn’t nonsense it’s reality. Utter stupidity is dangerous to your health and life and it’s a prime example of “survival of the fittest”.
Unfortunately in the end it was the tiger who paid the ultimate price for this moron’s stupidity.
The Tiger was just protecting his house.
Ummm, they don’t have tranquilizer shots on hand for quick use. What do you think this is, Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom?
The Tiger wasn’t letting go of the arm. Had to shoot immediately.
Let me rephrase that - humans screwed up again and most are incapable of properly caring for animals 🤪
All this could have been avoided if they both, tiger and man, would have had all of their vax shots including boosters, and had been wearing masks, and had socially distanced. Fauxi is so smart.
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