3 Injured 1 Dead in SF Tiger Attack - 1 Tiger Killed

[trashcanistanista]

Source: KCRA-tv 6:00 pm NEWS

Three people were injured in a tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo today. There is a possibility that one has died. Four tigers escaped and one is still loose.

It is not known if the attacks were on zoo employees or visitors.

Update: 6:30 pm news. Four tigers escaped, three were detained, one was shot. Three people were injured and the Zoo confirmed that one person was killed in the aattack. They are not sure how the tigers got loose.

No link yet.

[Warpy]

1. 12 years ago, in my old neighborhood

some thugs broke into a van transporting a zoo tiger across the country. They didn't get anything, but they let the kitty out. Workers at a Taco Bell found a Bengal Tiger lounging on the doorstep the next morning when they went to open up. They reported the tiger seemed tame but hungry. Animal control darted it and took it to the zoo until the claimants showed up and paid their ticket for illegally transporting a dangerous animal.

I wonder if it's the same puddy tat.

[DS1]

2. Probably decided to surrender when it realized the only joint in town was a Taco Bell

:shrug:

[Warpy]

5. There were a lot of good restaurants in the area

Guess it was in the mood for carrion.
:hide:

[Book Lover]

3. SFGate link

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/25/BA0LU4M2T.DTL&tsp=1

One person was killed and two others injured early this evening after four San Francisco Zoo tigers got loose, officials said.

One tiger was shot and the other three have been contained, San Francisco Fire Chief Audrey Lee said.

Sources at the scene said the tiger was killed.

Shotgun-wielding police officers have crowded around the south zoo entrance and firefighters were using tall ladders to shine flashlights into the zoo through the dense eucalyptus trees.

<more at link>

[trashcanistanista]

4. Thank you for the link.

I couldn't find anything else on this except what was reported.

[Book Lover]

8. Channel 5 right now (6:33) saying all injured were visitors

and I think he just said two people were killed. I really hope I misheard...

[trashcanistanista]

9. I updated to the 6:30 version.

I heard only one killed on KCRA. This is still developing.

[Book Lover]

10. I could easily be wrong

SFG updated their piece but it's still pretty thin. As you say, this is developing.

[Eurobabe]

33. I fucking hate zoos

:cry: :cry:

[damntexdem]

57. I fucking love zoos.

But I don't like loose tigers.

[Marrah_G]

6. I hope no one else gets hurt n/t

[Webster Green]

7. Evening news just said 4 tigers escaped, 1 person killed..

Damn!

[fed-up]

11. (12-25) 18:34 PST San Francisco - -- One San Francisco Zoo visitor was killed and two others injured

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/25/BA0LU4M2T.DTL&tsp=1

(12-25) 18:34 PST San Francisco - -- (12-25) 18:34 PST San Francisco - -- One San Francisco Zoo visitor was killed and two others injured early this evening after a tiger escaped from its cage. this evening after a tiger escaped from its cage.

The tiger that got loose was fatally shot while it was attacking a patron, said San Francisco Fire Department spokesman Lt. Ken Smith.

The attack happened shortly after the zoo's 5 p.m. closing time at a cafe on the east end of the zoo, officials said. The tiger cages are located near the center of the zoo.

The condition of the two injured patrons was not immediately known. It was also not clear how the tiger escaped.
Officials at first worried that four tigers had escaped, but three of the tigers never left their pen, Smith said.
..snip




I grew up in San Bruno and have been to the zoo many times. Loved to watch the lions get fed and hear them roar. Recently (last 5-10 years) they changed feeding arrangements.

How horrible....and sad..

so the tiger escaped and managed to get from the center of the zoo, to the east end and then attacked the visitor. That is also where the children's playground area is..... At 5:00 it would have just been getting dark.

[Pastiche423]

13. How could one escape from the Tiger House?

As far as I remember, there are no doors to the inside cages, only a space at the bottom to throw in meat.

[fed-up]

15. I remember tigers each in their own cage-here's Channel 2's (KTVU) report

http://www.ktvu.com/index.html
http://www.ktvu.com/news/14922301/detail.html
One Dead, Two Injured In SF Zoo Tiger Attack

POSTED: 5:55 pm PST December 25, 2007
UPDATED: 6:52 pm PST December 25, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO -- One person was killed and two others critically injured Sunday night after several tigers broke loose from their cage and went on a rampage at the San Francisco Zoo.
Authorities said they got a 911 call at 5:17 p.m. reporting that at least one tiger had broken loose from its cage and was prowling the grounds. Heavily armed police officers confronted the tiger inside the Terrace Cafe, killing it as it attacked a man. Three other tigers were found on the grounds and returned to their cages.
San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Ken Smith said at least one had been killed. A critically injured man who had been mauled in the face was treated by emergency workers inside the cafe. Another iman -- apparently the brother of the other injured man -- was also being treated at San Francisco General Hospital.
The zoo had been open until 5 p.m. for an event at the park's skating rink called the "Reindeer Romp."
Last December, one of the zoo's tigers mauled a zookeeper during a regular public feeding. The 350-pound animal reached through the cage's iron bars and badly lacerated her arm.

and video

http://www.ktvu.com/video/14922346/index.html

video says tiger attacked 3 separate people (visitors)

the tiger was on top of one of the injured victims (not deceased) when it was shot

[Pastiche423]

20. Right

Each tiger had its own cage, but the cages, side by side, were inside the Tiger House.

After seeing the video, I see there have been changes to the zoo since the last time I went. There was no cafe when I was last there, only a hotdog stand w/lots of mean ass gulls dive bombing at your food.

[Faygo Kid]

12. Update: Just one tiger escaped, was shot as it mauled a visitor. Link included.

Crazy story. Christmas Day, too. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/25/BA0LU4M2T.DTL&tsp=1

[trashcanistanista]

16. Correct,, now the zoo is saying

One escaped tiger, one visitor killed. Not sure how or why the story changed so fast. Holiday crew on, second stringers? Still, very tragic for the person and the big cat.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22395368/

Added MSNBC Link. Too late to edit my OP.

[hlthe2b]

21. Thank you for also including the loss of the cat as part of the

horrendous tragedy. They are wild animals in our care, after all and it falls to us to protect them as well as others from them.

Very very sad, all the way around. I hope for the recovery of those injured and the comfort for the family of the person killed.

[disndat]

14. Time to review zoos and animal rights

in the U.S. Who needs to confined large animals in small space for the profit of local governments.

[Book Lover]

17. The zoo takes money *out* of the city/county budget

The city only profits indirectly (parking tickets {ask me how I know about that one!}, attendant tourist spending, etc) from the zoo. I'm not saying somebody doesn't profit - I am sure there are folks who do. But the zoo is not a cash cow for the city.

[fed-up]

19. I used to budget $100 a month for parking tickets-half the time would park in Potrero Hill & use bus

for a few days. I lived across the street from Trader Vic's on Post/Jones (upper Tenderloin/lower Nob Hill) and there was NO parking, boyfriend lived in the Haight and minimal parking there twenty years ago. Thank goodness I had a Honda Civic, small and easy to park!

[Faygo Kid]

18. I fear that we will need to house some species to keep them going.

Our world will look very different soon, and tragically, the only way to preserve some species may be to warehouse them. Awful stuff.

Nothing that more tax cuts for the rich can't solve, I'm sure.

[pitohui]

27. this is especially the case with tiger species

the reality is that we wouldn't want wild tigers wandering about our neighborhoods either and combine the danger of having a wild tiger around, with the benefit of selling tiger "parts" for hard cash to superstitious chinese (and patrons of "chinese" medicine), well, there is not much hope in my humble opinion for tigers in the wild

[hlthe2b]

22. I have very mixed feelings, but have come to the conclusion....

(after seeing the decimation of the tigers on India's preserves and reading what is happening to so many big ape and endangered large mammals throughout the world), that extinction is assured without zoos and preserves. Our goal needs to be to improve them continually, deliver as close a natural environment as possible and assume the closest monitoring and oversight.

I know of no zoos that would make it on government funding alone, btw. To the extent there is profit, it is due to the balance between admissions and philanthropy of foundations and other memberships.

[LeftyMom]

23. Captivity is cruel. It is not a solution.

It is simple cruelty to keep animals used to ranging over miles in spaces that would be dwarfed by the typical suburban backyard, without other species to interact with, with only a simulation of their natural enviornment, with humans gawking at them and making noise...

I've seen the ape exhibits at my local zoo. Quite simply, they're abusive. Picure half a dozen chimps in a space that's maybe 30 feet by 80, with "enrichment" that consists of a daily deposit of the boxes of whatever food, light bulbs, etc the zoo opened the day before, sometimes with fruit hidden in them. Otherwise their diet consists mostly of "monkey chow"- picture dog food nuggets the size and shape of a turd, and you have a perfect picture of monkey chow. The orangs have it worse, they are solitary forest dewllers by nature, used to having a lot of space to their own, and thick canopies of damp rain forest in Borneo. Here? A scrubby grassy spot in Sacramento's oppressive sun and dry heat, smaller than even the chimps get, two small trees, and some ropes. Even worse, a father and mature daughter living together, a situation that would never occur in the wild. The lesser primates get even less space, and no enrichment at all that I know of. The big cats also get too-small spaces, and maybe a ball or some food for "enrichment." Captivity drives intelligent animals crazy. They engage in repetitive movements (pacing, head shaking, etc) they suffer physically from confinement and unnatural diets, they engage in unnatural behaviors caused by high population density. If all we can do is preserve the genes of a few, we're better off keeping samples in freezers if the only other option is to keep pathetic caged (frequently stressed and diseased) shadows of their wild kin.

[hlthe2b]

24. I'm sorry you have the very archaic type of enclosures...

The best of the zoos worldwide are light years ahead of what you are describing and improving each year. Those tedious confined enclosures are cruel, I agree. Obviously nothing compares to their natural habitat, but game preserves can come close. Zoos will always be a inferior compromise, but with planning and dedication to spending the dollars needed, need not be cruel.

[LeftyMom]

26. The "best" are still, small, dense, and usually have only one or two species.

They're like GenPop instead of solitary, but prison for animals isn't a species survival plan.

[hlthe2b]

28. No, but they may be the only temporary solution...

where human cruelty and warfare is putting them in danger of extinction. I far prefer that alternative to losing any chance at restoration of these wonderful animals. What is your alternative?

[LeftyMom]

32. Do our damndest to save their habitats

With primates, especially, saving captive populations will never cut it. Losing a population means losing culture- generations and generations of established behaviors, which be very distinctive to a region or group. So saving a breeding population of chimps wouldn't help much if we didn't have chimps with adapted survival capabilities for whatever habitat could be saved- whether the ability to fish for ants or hunt red colubus monkeys or whatever it is that works well there. If all we're doing is banking DNA, we're better off with some test tubes in a freezer. If we're looking to maintain viable populations of large animals, zoos aren't going to do it, as they *still* use a great number of wild caught animals, and have high replacement rates when they die young or are killed when they are unwanted (which is a big issue with large male cats, for example.)

[Retrograde]

50. ever been to the San Diego Wild Animal Park?

They have plenty of space, and the animals (herbivores, for the most part) are left to roam on their own. Their breeding program has been highly successful: one zookeeper pointed out that about a month after they first put the rhinos -which never had bred in captivity before - out to pasture they started reproducing, and that their original group of 8 is responsible for hundreds alive today. The recent fires came just to the edge of their enclosure, and the zookeeper also pointed out that the local carnivores are coming closer looking for food and the antelopes have set up their own sentries to warn the rest of the herd about any approaching mountain lions - like they would in the wild.

Zoos have changed a lot since they were simple cages. There are still old-style ones, but the newer ones try to do what's best for the animals. Since humans are rapidly encroaching on their remaining natural habitats it's the least we can do.

ETA: we saw an eland in the process of giving birth while we were there. Didn't see the baby, though.

[pinniped]

25. When I heard the newz copters buzzing around, I knew something was up.

.

[orleans]

29. msnbc has updated the story 37 minutes ago

(but i don't know what it originally said so i don't know what has changed)

how tragic.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22395368

[krispos42]

30. I wonder if any of the victims had anything to do with it

Stupid prank, drunken "cool idea", whatever. There was a case few months ago where a drunk guy in a bunch of drunk people decided it would be da bomb to break into a zoo and jump into the bear exhibit.

He didn't make it.

[LisaL]

31. It sure does not look like the victims had anything to do with it.

The tiger escaped and attacked a victim as the victim was in a cafe, killed the victim, and then attacked the other two victims. So, I presume the victims were in a cafe eating and had nothing to do with tiger escaping whatsoever.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/25/tiger.attack/index.html

[The Stranger]

38. Actually, wasn't the zoo closed when some of these people were there?

[krispos42]

80. That's a hell of a way to die... :-(

You have better odds of being hit by lighting.

[RamboLiberal]

34. Same tiger that mauled a keeper last year

One zoo visitor was mauled to death and two others severely injured when a Siberian tiger escaped from its grotto at the San Francisco Zoo early Christmas evening and went on a bloody rampage in front of terrified zoo patrons.

The tiger - the same animal that chewed a keeper's arm during an attack last December - was shot to death outside a zoo cafe by four officers who managed to distract the animal as it mauled one of its victims.

The horrifying violence, which occurred just after the zoo's 5 p.m. closing time while dozens of patrons were still inside, began when the tiger somehow managed to gain its liberty from the grotto.

The animal, a 4-year-old tiger named Tatiana, did not leave the grotto through its only door, zookeepers said. The grotto is surrounded by a 15-foot-wide moat and a 20-foot-high wall.

"We don't know how it was able to get out," said Robert Jenkins, director of animal care at the zoo. "The tiger should not have been able to jump (out). This is the first thing we will be investigating."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/26/MN0LU4M2T.DTL&tsp=1

I'll hold off judging the zoo till the facts are out though it is disturbing they had an incident last year with the same tiger. I don't blame the cat - it was only following instincts.

I hate to see these animals caged but I also feel good zoos are needed. I think they serve a very valuable service when they educate the public about these animals and seeing them up close certainly brings a thrill and an empathy for many children and adults. But again the zoos need to make the habitats as open and natural as possible but still protecting the animals, visitors and workers.

[EFerrari]

35. They don't know how the cat got out.

They don't even know that.

[Catchawave]

36. Press conference coming up soon on MSNBC n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

37. Per MSNBC: Victims may have been taunting cat before the attack!

If this is indeed the case, I have zero sympathy for their conditions. :mad:

[RamboLiberal]

40. I had exact same thought

In fact last night I was wondering if this was the case. Zoo's aren't exactly a destination for young men in their age group. But it probably was one of the few places open on Xmas Day. Young men certainly are noted for doing stupid macho acts. If they were indeed taunting the tiger, no sympathy from me. This might've been what fueled the cat to make this escape. So far it looks like the tiger escaped by jumping the moat and scaling the 20 foot wall.

On edit now the police spokesman is denying the reports on taunting per CNN reporter.

[LisaL]

41. The two men who survived were attacked in the cafe,

so I presume they were eating.
They don't even know if there is any connection between the two men and the third victim that was killed.
And any possible taunting appears to be just speculation, because apparently the police is trying to figure out what happened, and they are not ruling anything out.

[RamboLiberal]

48. They weren't in the cafe - the two injured were outside the cafe

The first attack happened right outside the Siberian's pen -- the unidentified victim died at the scene. A group of four responding officers came across his body when they made their way into the dark zoo grounds, said Mannina.
Then they saw the second victim. He was about 300 yards away, in front of the Terrace Cafe.

The man was sitting on the ground, blood running from gashes in his head. Tatiana sat next to him. Suddenly, the cat attacked the man again, Mannina said.

The officers started approaching the animal, bearing their handguns. As Tatiana moved in their direction, several of the officers fired, killing the animal.

Only then did they see the third victim, who had also been mauled.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=5854999

If the tiger did jump the moat and jump/scale the wall one does have to wonder what set it off. Perhaps these guys weren't together. Perhaps they are entirely innocent. But it does make me wonder if one or more of them did something to set the tiger off.

[LisaL]

51. I really don't think it's going to matter in terms of zoo liability for this.

If the tiger managed to get out of the enclosure, then it seems to me the enclosure were not adequate.
And unless the victim jumped into the enclosure (which is clearly not the case), then I don't think it should matter if the victim was doing anything to set the tiger off.
Which by the way appears to be a complete speculation at this point, considering, from what I heard on TV, no witnesses have come forward to describe what had happened.
Assuming for a moment that the victim did something to set the tiger off, I fail to see how it's a good excuse. You have children going into these zoos. You don't expect everybody to behave in a perfect manner, especially children, to not set the tiger off. What you expect is that the tiger is contained in the enclosure so it's not able to get out.

[The Stranger]

39. Siberian tigers are some of the most rare and endangered animals on the planet.

But we cage them for a five-dollar viewing, then have dipshit cops play target practice when the animal escapes and attacks someone.

Why does this shit still go on?

[Marrah_G]

42. Okay I have to disagee with something here

These people are sitting in a cafe and a Tiger kills one and attacks two others. As the police get to the scene they shoot the Tiger who is ON TOP of a blood soaked young man.....and you call them dipshits for shooting her???????????

Would you rather they allow her to finish him off while someone runs and gets the tranq gun and then maybe she would fall asleep before killing the third man?

I get your response about the cages....however I do NOT get your nasty comments about the police officers who saved a young man's life.

[LisaL]

43. This tiger wasn't in a cage anyway, as far as I can tell.

The tiger was in an enclosure. They are not thinking that is how she got out. Climbing or jumping over the wall?

[The Stranger]

44. I guess my complaint is about the entire breakdown, but really it all starts with the premise

that you can keep extremely rare and extremely dangerous animals in cages for people to look at.

Can you point out to me the specific report stating that the tiger was "on top of a blood soaked young man"? More often, there is an animal loose and the cops don't wait for a tranq gun, but blow away what is (again) an extremelly rare and nearly extinct animal, then bask in the thanks of the community for doing so.

[LisaL]

45. The tiger killed one person, and attacked the other two.

Previously that same tiger attacked her keeper.
Even if somebody used a tranq gun on her, she should have been put to sleep, IMO, as being an extremely dangerous man eating tiger.

[superduperfarleft]

52. "as being an extremely dangerous man eating tiger."

Um, isn't that what tigers do?

[LisaL]

53. No.

Tigers don't normally hunt people in the wild.

[superduperfarleft]

54. I'd agree with the word "hunt."

Wild tigers don't actively hunt people, but if the opportunity is there, I'm sure they wouldn't pass up a meal.

Likewise, I think if a person were to spend any time in a tiger's cage, they'd probably be food in a short time.

I find this whole incident unfortunate, both for the people injured and the tiger who was basically just being a tiger.

[LisaL]

55. That's why when a tiger is in the zoo, you'd expect the

tiger to just "be a tiger" in it's enclosure. It should not be able to get out. Apparently this one was able to get out.

[The Stranger]

76. Wow, that could be the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard.

Put to sleep a critically endangered nearly extinct animal because it has evolved over millions and millions of years to be a highly refined, extremely effective predator.

You might as well shoot your car if were ever to run over someone who accidentally wanders into the street. That would make about as much sense.

Congratulations, that is definitely the stupdiest fucking thing I have ever read on DU.

[Gormy Cuss]

46. I'm in the San Fran area. All of the local reports say that the tiger was

near one of the victims when the police arrived. The only debate is whether she was on him or next to him taking a break. It was dark when the attack occurred. When the four officers appeared, the tiger stood and faced them -- that's when the cops shot at the tiger. Because of the limited visibility they were aware of only one victim at that time. After they shot the tiger they saw the second victim at the cafe (the two men are brothers) and it was only later that the fatality was discovered just outside of tiger enclosure. There were an estimated 25 people in the zoo at the time, and during the initial response it was not clear whether there were other tigers loose. To expect the cops to wait for a tranq gun with a free-roaming, mauling tiger in their midst is a bit much.

[EFerrari]

73. On the victim. Those poor kids.

:(

[Marrah_G]

47. From the SF Chronicle.

"Alerted by frantic calls from the zoo, four officers arrived in two police cars and tracked the tiger to the cafe. The tiger was sitting next to one victim but, when the officers arrived, it resumed its attack.

"The tiger jumped back on top," police Sgt. Steve Mannina said. "The victim had blood on his face."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you have not shot the cat? I would have.

[RamboLiberal]

49. Hello - how the hell were they going to get to the victims

w/o taking out the tiger? As someone else posted this tiger would've had to be euthanized any way. The cops did the right thing. The most important thing to do at the time was to remove the threat to both the cops and the two victims.

[CreekDog]

64. here's the report genius

"The man was sitting on the ground, blood running from gashes in his head. Tatiana sat next to him. Suddenly, the cat attacked the man again, Mannina said.

The officers started approaching the animal, bearing their handguns. As Tatiana moved in their direction, several of the officers fired, killing the animal."

by the way, the victim was a 17-year old.

[The Stranger]

78. No need to be rude.

I simply asked for the link to what he/she said.

And, actually, you didn't provide a link either. Thanks for wasting both of our time.

(Not that I would disagree about my being a genius, however.)

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[damntexdem]

56. Those tigers are obviously terrorists.

When will Hoaxland Security do its press release on the conspiracy to escape and kill tourists?

I tell you: we've got to fight them in the zoo so we don't have to fight them in the theme parks! ;-)

[Dukkha]

58. why did they have to kill it?

It's a freaking zoo they should've been better prepared with tranquilizer guns to immediately subdue an animal in an event of escape like this. I've never been to the SF zoo when I lived there. I often visit the Columbus zoo here, of the the finest in the world. The animals are treated well and in nice large pens and do a lot to promote conservation. Certainly not better than their natural habitat but, in particular with the Siberian Tiger, a much better option than extinction.

[AngryAmish]

60. She was mauling the 2 dudes that lived when the cops rolled up

The cops only had their sidearms.

[Dukkha]

61. yes but where were the zookeepers and animal handlers beforehand

they should have been able to respond much faster than the police.

[AngryAmish]

62. Running

There was a tiger loose.

on edit:

Those tranquilizer guns don't work right away. Notice on the nature shows either the animal is either penned up or the people are shooting from a safe location, a helicopter or a truck.

It would take an incredible act of bravery (or stupidity) to stand there, without a way to defend yourself, after shooting a pissed off tiger with a dart to piss them off even more. Then, standing there wondering if you got the right dosage. Then, wondering why a pissed off, kinda sleepy tiger is eating you.

Nobody wants to see such a beautiful creature destroyed. But the idea of having darts at the ready and not allowing firearms to be used to save human life, with all due respect (or maybe not) really stupid.

[Pachamama]

81. Yes, where was the "Zoo Security"??? First question I asked and why it was the SFPD that had to be

called in.....How could the Zoo not have a security force that is trained and has not just tranquilizers but hunting rifles, even ones strong enough to take down a charging rhino if they had too????

I am too angry beyond words to describe how I'm feeling about this incident at the SF Zoo. I go to the Zoo with the Pachababies atleast several times a month. Silly me for assuming that the Zoo takes precautions for its patrons and animals' safety. I don't blame the SFPD...they did what they had to given the circumstances. But I want to know how the SF Zoo could not only not build enclosures that are clearly not safe, but also no security cameras to observe possible taunting or abuse of animals or to track any in the event of an escape. No one should have had to die or be mauled and Tatiana the Tiger was a magnificent wild animal who shouldn't have had to have died. I hold the Zoo responsible and the young men if they were taunting it. But I'm sure the Zoo officials are doing all they can to cover their asses right now and not take responsibility. They suck. Because it was Christmas Day and toward the end of the day it was very slow, but on any other day, it could have been 100 times busier in terms of people and with people like myself with my small children. I just always assumed they had a security force and cameras around. Ha! Wrong! Now I know - go to the SF Zoo and god forbid an animal does get out, you better hope the SFPD gets there fast enough. :puke:

[CreekDog]

65. the animal was attacking a visitor just before police shot it

there is not time to call for someone else as someone is being attacked.

[nebula]

59. Tatiana in her cage

what a shame such a beautiful animal had to die.

[oberliner]

66. Human role not ruled out in tiger attack

Source: AP

SAN FRANCISCO - The big cat exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo was cordoned off as a crime scene Wednesday as investigators tried to determine whether a 300-pound 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 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.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071226/ap_on_re_us/tiger_escapes;_ylt=AuO3f9tDRGuJ7nmYSnHOZqis0NUE

[Peregrine Took]

67. A year ago one of those tiger's attacked her trainer -on 12/22 - Xmas time.

I wonder if they've considered the effect of all the Christmas gimcrackery that goes on in the modern zoo's this time of year? I know they said the zoo in SF was "decorated for Christmas" - I wonder if its similar to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago - lights, music blaring loudly for hours - its possible it could freak some animals out. I find it disturbing, myself.

[XemaSab]

72. It was the same cat that was shot yesterday

:(

[EFerrari]

77. I agree but, it wouldn't alter the basic security of the enclosure. n/t

[Double T]

68. Sounds like human gross misconduct to me.

I believe the wrong mammal was shot.

[CreekDog]

70. which human should have been shot?

the one who died? the ones who are in the hospital right now?

do tell.

[Double T]

71. The human that released the tiger.

[AngryAmish]

69. There was a human role: dinner.

[EFerrari]

74. One of my neighbors is dead and two are wounded.

Can you stop yourself?

[undergroundpanther]

75. Wow

I feel so sorry for the tiger,and I am sorry Tatiana attacked the people.
Looks to me like a bad situation all around.

May Sekhmet take Tatiana the beloved tiger soul to a safe place,where she will suffer no more like she did on hell hole earth...

And I send my condolences also to the dead people and their mourning families and I wish the recovering injured people swift healing and as least pain as possible..

And if it is found someone let or helped Tatiana get out of her enclosure may they die in Sekhmet's claws for causing this horrible, needlessly tragic incident.

[EFerrari]

79. Third parties. The cops that went in and shot this cat

will never get over it. I know the cops in this neighborhood. They are not thugs. They don't destroy life for no reason or without consequence to themselves. They will never get over these deaths.

That's not true all over this city, but it is true here, in this little corner. This happened about two miles from my kitchen table and we are all very saddened. Something beautiful has been destroyed, a trust has been shattered.

[girl gone mad]

82. I know it's too early for judgement..

but if the reports are true, these three were begging for it. Mess with a tiger, you're going to get the claws.

[RebelOne]

83. I have to agree with you.

The victim was a teenage boy and teenage boys do some stupid things.

San Francisco police are investigating the possibility that one of the victims in the fatal tiger mauling on Christmas Day climbed over a waist-high fence and then dangled a leg or other body part over the edge of a moat that kept the big cat away from the public, sources close to the investigation said Wednesday.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/27/MNEJU4SVN.DTL

[Dukkha]

84. the same tiger has attacked before

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/23/TIGER.TMP

almost exactly a year before too. If it had a history of hostility towards the handlers it should've been released back to the wild or at least kept under more closer watch.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

A 350-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana attacked her keeper at the San Francisco Zoo during feeding time Friday afternoon as dozens of visitors looked on, causing deep lacerations to the keeper's arms.

The keeper, who zoo officials refused to name but sources identified as Lori Komejan, was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where she underwent surgery for the cuts.

She was "alert and conscious" when she was taken by ambulance to the hospital, said Robert Jenkins, the zoo's director of animal care and conservation. A talented artist who likes to draw animals, she has been employed by the zoo since 1997.