Comments on: Of Tiger Walls and Tragedies: Thoughts on the San Francisco Zoo Tiger Incident http://www.bloggernews.net/112818 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:17:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: JulieS. http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-195367 JulieS. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:08:25 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-195367 No, Tigers do NOT prefer the taste of humans, and it's recorded that Tatiana reverted back to her normal behavior, the day after the feeding. The keeper feeding her dropped the food, and never should have reached for it, thus causing the sequence of events. Heck, even my my favorite house cat will mistake my fingers for food and nip me, whenever I feed her rare steak! Tatiana's nails were broken, and evidently happened that night - new reports in, are that she was indeed taunted by the 3 men. I wonder about the 4th man, that the woman who reported, went? Until this transpired today, she was doubted. At the level of alcohol that was in the young men's systems, and taking into the fact they were wasted on pot, I don't see how they could've stood on the thin rail! We have only just begun to hear a fraction of the real truth. I bet the brothers will be tried for involuntary manslaughter on their friend, whom they never showed concern over, that night. No, Tigers do NOT prefer the taste of humans, and it’s recorded that Tatiana reverted back to her normal behavior, the day after the feeding. The keeper feeding her dropped the food, and never should have reached for it, thus causing the sequence of events. Heck, even my my favorite house cat will mistake my fingers for food and nip me, whenever I feed her rare steak!

Tatiana’s nails were broken, and evidently happened that night - new reports in, are that she was indeed taunted by the 3 men. I wonder about the 4th man, that the woman who reported, went? Until this transpired today, she was doubted. At the level of alcohol that was in the young men’s systems, and taking into the fact they were wasted on pot, I don’t see how they could’ve stood on the thin rail!

We have only just begun to hear a fraction of the real truth. I bet the brothers will be tried for involuntary manslaughter on their friend, whom they never showed concern over, that night.

]]> By: HumansFirst http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-183702 HumansFirst Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:51:20 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-183702 Tatiana attacked a zoo keeper Dec 22, 2006. She tasted human blood then. She may well have escaped at night, previously and returned to the grotto. The attack on the three young men happened at closing, at dusk, mid winter. If I were a tiger, that's when I would make my lunge for my favorite newly acquired taste. The risk was known, and ignored. When the attack / escape occurred zoo went into delay / silence / panic prevention mode. They delayed the cops. They have refused to answer 20 questions submitted by the SFBG. The questions were well put, by a person experienced in handling big cats. Arrest them, starting right at the top. Try them for murder. Tatiana attacked a zoo keeper Dec 22, 2006. She tasted human blood then. She may well have escaped at night, previously and returned to the grotto. The attack on the three young men happened at closing, at dusk, mid winter. If I were a tiger, that’s when I would make my lunge for my favorite newly acquired taste. The risk was known, and ignored. When the attack / escape occurred zoo went into delay / silence / panic prevention mode. They delayed the cops. They have refused to answer 20 questions submitted by the SFBG. The questions were well put, by a person experienced in handling big cats. Arrest them, starting right at the top. Try them for murder.

]]> By: Bala http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-178914 Bala Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:13:55 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-178914 Very well thought out and well written, good article. Thanks for this piece which is what I call responsible journalism instead of the major news channels sensationalizing this unfortunate incident (for the tiger). Very well thought out and well written, good article.

Thanks for this piece which is what I call responsible journalism instead of the major news channels sensationalizing this unfortunate incident (for the tiger).

]]> By: Tom http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-177860 Tom Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:41:17 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-177860 There is a reason why the regulations usually say "adequate" protection for the public rather than "absolute." It is because there is only so far that any owner can go and then has to stop spending money. It is also because due diligence is satisfied at some point. There is a reason why the regulations usually say “adequate” protection for the public rather than “absolute.” It is because there is only so far that any owner can go and then has to stop spending money. It is also because due diligence is satisfied at some point.

]]> By: Dan http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176937 Dan Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:06:25 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176937 Thanks for such an excellent post. But I have point for consideration and perhaps you can refute this. You say: "Most likely, she had been ‘testing’ the wall for some time. But, she had never been able to get out." Now, I have read that security was seriously undermanned at nights, after hours. Do the tigers at the SF Zoo stay in the grotto at night? If so, how do we know that the tiger has never been able to get out? Maybe she succeeded in getting out some nights, and leapt back in afterwards. If no one was around, maybe no one would notice this. I know this may sound ridiculous, but if she was truly testing it for a long time...maybe she had absolute confidence that she could get out if she ever really wanted to. OK I suppose there would be evidence of paw prints. Thanks for such an excellent post. But I have point for consideration and perhaps you can refute this.
You say:
“Most likely, she had been ‘testing’ the wall for some time. But, she had never been able to get out.”

Now, I have read that security was seriously undermanned at nights, after hours. Do the tigers at the SF Zoo stay in the grotto at night? If so, how do we know that the tiger has never been able to get out? Maybe she succeeded in getting out some nights, and leapt back in afterwards. If no one was around, maybe no one would notice this. I know this may sound ridiculous, but if she was truly testing it for a long time…maybe she had absolute confidence that she could get out if she ever really wanted to. OK I suppose there would be evidence of paw prints.

]]> By: AmyR http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176916 AmyR Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:40:44 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176916 Very well written with a sensible- rather than sensationalized- approach. We will all see or hear about many horrible accidents happening over our life time, especially those not involving animals. Using animals to exploit an agenda of no human/animal interaction of any kind is part of the exremist animal rights activists arsenal, definitely sensationalized. I choose to live WITH rather than without and accept the very minimal risk involved. Very well written with a sensible- rather than sensationalized- approach. We will all see or hear about many horrible accidents happening over our life time, especially those not involving animals. Using animals to exploit an agenda of no human/animal interaction of any kind is part of the exremist animal rights activists arsenal, definitely sensationalized. I choose to live WITH rather than without and accept the very minimal risk involved.

]]> By: Linda http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176872 Linda Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:39:21 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176872 One of the best commentaries I've read on the incident so far. I liked your comment about the tiger putting his paw on the ledge...my husband is a retired zoo keeper...tigers hated him, too. I haven't done the stats...not enought time...but I'm thinking, when you consider the number of people who visit a zoo each day, and the low number of incidences, the zoo has to be quite a safe place. I just hope the San Francisco Zoo makes it okay after this. One of the best commentaries I’ve read on the incident so far.

I liked your comment about the tiger putting his paw on the ledge…my husband is a retired zoo keeper…tigers hated him, too.

I haven’t done the stats…not enought time…but I’m thinking, when you consider the number of people who visit a zoo each day, and the low number of incidences, the zoo has to be quite a safe place.

I just hope the San Francisco Zoo makes it okay after this.

]]> By: Julian http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176737 Julian Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:39:21 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112818#comment-176737 Great commentary on the incident, it seems to be more level headed than most and certainly has some valid points. However it does miss one thing that I'd like to mention. Something that I've not seen mentioned anywhere else and is easily the most shocking part of the whole story (to me at least). That is the lack of CCTV (closed circuit television). I'm appalled the AZA, or the ZAOA, or the FCF do not have a mandatory requirement for CCTV on perimeters of animal enclosures - maybe they do but it has still not been mentioned in the press. The cost of CCTV is probably as low as it has ever been and if it were set up in the zoo this whole debacle could have been prevented. 1) The tiger would have most likely been caught attempting it's escape before it had a chance to get out and cause harm and 2) Anyone taunting animals would be caught on camera and appropriately disciplined It's partly because I come from the UK where CCTV is literally on every street corner that this shocks me so much but I can't believe that this simple form of security surveillance is not in place and not mandatory for certain animals in zoos! Does anyone have any information regarding CCTV and zoos in the USA? Great commentary on the incident, it seems to be more level headed than most and certainly has some valid points. However it does miss one thing that I’d like to mention. Something that I’ve not seen mentioned anywhere else and is easily the most shocking part of the whole story (to me at least). That is the lack of CCTV (closed circuit television). I’m appalled the AZA, or the ZAOA, or the FCF do not have a mandatory requirement for CCTV on perimeters of animal enclosures - maybe they do but it has still not been mentioned in the press. The cost of CCTV is probably as low as it has ever been and if it were set up in the zoo this whole debacle could have been prevented.

1) The tiger would have most likely been caught attempting it’s escape before it had a chance to get out and cause harm
and
2) Anyone taunting animals would be caught on camera and appropriately disciplined

It’s partly because I come from the UK where CCTV is literally on every street corner that this shocks me so much but I can’t believe that this simple form of security surveillance is not in place and not mandatory for certain animals in zoos!

Does anyone have any information regarding CCTV and zoos in the USA?

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