Comments on: Tiger attack at S.F. Zoo

By: Judy

Judy — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:03:23 +0000

I recall reading that she “tracked” the other 2 taunters to the cafe. She was fed up with them and actually hunting them! This was NOT a random attack. she knew who they were and what she was doing, just as they knew what they were doing!

By: Jodie

Jodie — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:38:40 +0000

The tiger lived in terrible conditions…I have seen them and would never return to the SF zoo. It is very possible that this wild animal finally was just able to physically escape and lived and breathed for the moment it could get away. Maybe, the men attacked did nothing to provoke the animal and Tatiana just did what tigers do naturally in the wild. She attacked out of instinct and being driven half crazy in an inadequate enclosure for years. The fact that she escaped is the issue….we all know that once an animal escapes it becomes dangerous beyond belief and does not need permission or a reason.

By: Neela Sen

Neela Sen — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:48:35 +0000

Tatiana should be mourned because she was only following her instincts. It is tragic that people do not admire and respect these beautiful, regal animals. I deplore the fact that one young teenager is dead but the world is sadly depleted of another Siberian tigress who could have bred more and added to the gene-pool. This is the conundrum that faces zoos and reserves for exotic wild animals.

Neela in Houston

By: Pat in Antioch

Pat in Antioch — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:35:32 +0000

You’re probably right Val; but in my perfect world with no zoos, there is also not a human race that hunts these animals to near extinction!

Pat in Antioch

By: tiger woman

tiger woman — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:22:41 +0000

Poor Tatiana..she was wild at heart and probaly sick of being in feline prison.
I cannot help but wonder if she was harrassed and provoked and said enough is enough…interesting she went after the group of people who came together and not other individuals. Hopefully someone will have videos and photos. I am curious oi the injured had cell phones with photos of the tiger?
Will Tatiana have a memorial and a funeral?

Run free brave Tatiana ….

By: tammy

tammy — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:57:44 +0000

might not have been the zoo’s fault.. possibly due to human error. new evidence surfaced which suggests that the tiger was possibly aided out of her area by victim’s dangling leg through the fence of the grotto. the tiger was also possibly provoked given by pinecones and sticks found on moat that could not have naturally landed there. here’s a recent link:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5glzUOMikfoz-ZJpJUpoGhJksoajw
tiger is possibly a victim as well to the case of foul play.

By: Val

Val — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:52:36 +0000

Pat, if they were left in the wild they’d be dead.

By: Pat in Antioch

Pat in Antioch — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:11:10 +0000

…..and to answer your question Gary….of course they CAN’T guarantee that something like this won’t happen again!!

By: Pat in Antioch

Pat in Antioch — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:09:18 +0000

Personally, I feel that these animals should be left in the wild where they belong. Take any being out of its element, cage it up in cramped quarters & the results would be the same. We (rightfully) do it to prisoners as a form of punishment for crimes committed; what did the animals do to deserve this same “punishment?” My heart goes out to the families of these young men, but the tiger was just being a tiger.

I wouldn’t be surprised to find that she leapt out of her confines either. I’ve seen my small, 11 lb. cat leap 6+ feet, straight up, chasing a laser and clear an equal distance jumping across the floor. What made the folks who designed the zoo confines think that something SO much larger & more powerful couldn’t leap or climb 20 feet up or 15 feet across the moat. This is such a sad thing all around, but the bottom line is that if the tiger weren’t in the zoo to start with, this never would have happened.

Pat in Antioch

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:35:26 +0000

A commenter on the SFGate website said there are a number of wildlife refuges that will accept an animal that has shown agression toward humans – Gary, do you know of any? And if so, how are they certain that they themselves won’t be attacked?