Report: S.F. Tiger May Have Been Taunted : ATOM 0.3

Report: S.F. Tiger May Have Been Taunted

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Police are reportedly investigating whether the young men mauled by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo taunted the animal, a possibility the father of one of the victims said Thursday he hoped wasn't true.

Nunkii @ 1/4/2008 4:10:19 AM

Well, technically, Tigers were not built for jumping. Most of their muscle mass is in the front end, which means poor balance.

I guess this specific Tiger believed he/she could fly and soared through the sky!

Or...

A zookeeper who wasn't thinking put a tree or something for the Tiger to climb up and that helped launched Tiger closer to the goal of getting out.

Just taking some guesses...I trained some big cats in my internship, and I've never seen habitats that were too low or had trees and rocks laying near the sides of the habitats. If they were, they usually had the top covered as well.

The world may never know!

DoggySpew @ 12/28/2007 2:54:11 PM

« davbob :
Now I do agree that it's sad that somebody died but it's sadder that a Tiger was destroyed for doing what tigers do. I like zoos and will continue to visit them but deep down I can't help feeling that they are wrong.

The tiger wasn't destroyed, he was killed while attacking the police officers. So its death was inevitable that way.

Ellz @ 12/27/2007 11:18:49 PM

What really got me was this:

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.

Good f**king job. Grant them anonymity because they're releasing classified information they don't have permission to release.

I hope the allegation that the men taunted the tiger proves true, though. Social Darwinism > tragedy.

Rowangrey @ 12/27/2007 6:22:27 PM

« Steffanie :
I can't help but feel that the tiger is just as much a victim as the people who were mauled.

If one of the guys in the hospital DID taunt the tiger, he is NOT a victim, he's an example! :)

Steffanie @ 12/27/2007 5:57:57 PM

Regardless of whether the tiger was taunted or not, I think responsibility for this is completely on the zoo. The walls were far too short, and the zoo had to know this, that alone is wrong but what's even worse about it is that this tiger ripped apart a zookeeper's arm last year around this time*. Why wasn't it made completely sure this tiger couldn't harm anyone in the first place, let alone after it had already attacked someone? It's a wild animal.

I can't help but feel that the tiger is just as much a victim as the people who were mauled.

*http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12838617.html

davbob @ 12/27/2007 5:22:26 PM

« DoggySpew : Well, the architect of the pen greatly underestimated the jumping power of a tiger (30 foot moat, a tiger can EASILY jump such a distance)

Do not underestimate tigers jumping power.

I have a pet cat which can easily jump onto the cupboards in our kitchen which are at a height of about 7 ft. Think about it : little puddy cat - 7ft

Big tiger - as high as he wants pretty much.

Now I do agree that it's sad that somebody died but it's sadder that a Tiger was destroyed for doing what tigers do. I like zoos and will continue to visit them but deep down I can't help feeling that they are wrong.

Nunkii @ 12/27/2007 5:01:34 PM

« DoggySpew : Giraffes can kick a lion dead with one kick, so don't taunt the herbivores either.

BTW: Here in Holland, we had our own incident with an escaping gorilla this year. He hurt a lady pretty bad.

Exactly why I don't ever taunt animals.

DoggySpew @ 12/27/2007 4:53:43 PM

« bevissimo : Yeah, but think about it - if you taunt a giraffe, what's the worst that could happen, you get kicked or licked. Go ahead, taunt the herbivores, but leave the carnivores alone.

Giraffes can kick a lion dead with one kick, so don't taunt the herbivores either.

BTW: Here in Holland, we had our own incident with an escaping gorilla this year. He hurt a lady pretty bad.

DoggySpew @ 12/27/2007 4:50:08 PM

« tomphoolry : I'm not going to down vote, but the article that comes up does not match the headline and synopsis.

Story is about the wall being too low, no mention of the possible taunting.

Hmm, think the link has changed (Either by the poster or MSNBC themselves)

But now my point about tigers jumping abilities is even stronger. 12 feet is EASY for a tiger to reach (As seen with my elephant video)

tomphoolry @ 12/27/2007 4:43:19 PM

I'm not going to down vote, but the article that comes up does not match the headline and synopsis.

Story is about the wall being too low, no mention of the possible taunting.

bevissimo @ 12/27/2007 4:39:47 PM

« irishdrunk : On the oyher end of the spectrum, can you find an animal in a zoo that hasn't been taunted?

Yeah, but think about it - if you taunt a giraffe, what's the worst that could happen, you get kicked or licked. Go ahead, taunt the herbivores, but leave the carnivores alone.

2manyusernames @ 12/27/2007 4:33:28 PM

once again Darwin takes one of his people.

irishdrunk @ 12/27/2007 4:13:52 PM

On the oyher end of the spectrum, can you find an animal in a zoo that hasn't been taunted?

DoggySpew @ 12/27/2007 3:34:25 PM

Well, the architect of the pen greatly underestimated the jumping power of a tiger (30 foot moat, a tiger can EASILY jump such a distance)

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, said such a leap would be an unbelievable feat and "virtually impossible."

Ahem:

Short little run: Tiger reaches at least 12 feet high.

Do not underestimate tigers jumping power.

On further note: I'm sad that person died, and I'm sad that such an magnificent animal had to be killed.

bevissimo @ 12/27/2007 3:32:06 PM

« Maven : I suspect the parents will be disappointed, and that the kid did tease the tiger. Sucks, either way.

I'm betting you're right and the young men did play "here kitty kitty kitty". Maybe I should add a Braindead tag?

Maven @ 12/27/2007 3:09:27 PM

I suspect the parents will be disappointed, and that the kid did tease the tiger. Sucks, either way.