[FEL-L] San Francisco Animal Handler mauled by Tiger

[Gary Breuckman]

On Sat, 23 Dec 2006, Laura Morin wrote:

> Anyone find out the name of the keeper???


Here is a later article, from the 'San Francisco Chronicle'
The zoo has not released the name, but the paper has found
out that it was Lori Komejan.

-- Gary Breuckman


Sunday, December 24, 2006 (SF Chronicle)
SAN FRANCISCO/Zoo closes Lion House after mauling
Chuck Squatriglia, Chronicle Staff Writer


   The Siberian tiger that attacked her keeper was roaming her
outdoor habitat with the San Francisco Zoo's other big cats Saturday,
but visitors can no longer watch the animals being fed.
   That's because the zoo's popular Lion House, where the feedings
take place, will remain closed indefinitely while officials try to
determine what led the tiger to lunge Friday and claw the arms of a
keeper who has worked at the zoo nearly 10 years.
   The 350-pound cat, named Tatiana, attacked at 2:15 p.m., shortly
after feeding time. The San Francisco Fire Department was called at
2:22 p.m. Zoo officials hope that accounts from employees who saw the
incident -- and from the keeper, when she is ready -- will clear up
what happened, zoo spokesman Paul Garcia said.
   Zoo authorities would not identify the keeper, but sources told
The Chronicle she was Lori Komejan. She suffered deep lacerations to
her arms and underwent surgery Friday at San Francisco General
Hospital. Garcia declined to comment Saturday on her condition at the
family's request.
   Komejan, a talented artist who likes to draw animals, has worked
at the zoo since 1997.
   She was attacked in the Lion House shortly after keepers fed the
zoo's three tigers and four lions. Each animal receives 3 to 5 pounds
of horsemeat through double doors in their cages. Once the keeper
puts the food inside, the door on the keeper's side closes and one on
the cat's side opens.
   All went well during the feeding, zoo officials said, but minutes
later Tatiana grabbed Komejan's arms. It's not known whether Tatiana
squeezed her paw through her cage bars, which are just a few inches
apart, or whether Komejan was close enough for Tatiana to strike.
   Zookeepers in the Lion House when the attack occurred grabbed
Komejan and pulled her away as dozens of visitors watched.
   Until now, the zoo has allowed patrons to watch the feeding from
behind a barrier about 4 feet from the cages. Zoo employees move
freely between the cage and the barrier.
   It is not clear what, if anything, will happen to Tatiana. Robert
Jenkins, the zoo's director of animal care and conservation, said the
animal had no history of aggression toward humans, and that it is
"not normal procedure" to euthanize a big animal for such behavior.
Garcia said the cat will not be examined as part of the zoo's
investigation of the attack.
   Tatiana was born in Denver on June 27, 2003, and brought to San
Francisco last December as a companion for Tony, a 14-year-old
Siberian tiger whose sibling and lifelong companion died in late
2004.