[FEL-L] SF tiger attack

[PureRaine at aol.com]

This front page "news article" appeared on the SF Chronicle on New  Years Day 
as "sensationalism" - something to stir up the public against  exotic 
animals. The family had requested the keepers name not be used, yet the  yellow 
journalism reporter felt free to identify the keeper as well as personal  
information. This eye witness report was held back until an "expert animal  
behaviorist" could comment and flesh out the article. News reporters like this  one, are 
leeches and vultures who have no common sense, decency or respect  for others 
privacy. They would rather make a situation worse than to be helpful. 
 
I understand when this happened, local news helicopters flew above the zoo  
grounds -  terrified the other animals - in an attempt to "get the  story". 
Like they say, falling off a horse isn't sensational enough.
 
Over 3 years ago, I "adopted" a pair of African Lion cubs at the  SF Zoo, and 
am very familiar with their Big Cat Feeding Tuesday through Sunday.  I visit 
all the fur kids very week.  The "mauling" did NOT happen DURING  the feeding, 
it happened after the cats had been fed. Tatiana, the young 3 year  old 
Siberian tiger is just that - a young playful animal, who was, probably  playing. 
Tatiana has only been "on display" at the SF Zoo for 7 months or so.  She's not 
aggressive. (well, all the cats are aggressive during feeding time,  but not 
afterwards).  The keeper could've had blood on her hands, the  keeper could've 
been "hand-feeding" a treat and Tatiana reached out.
 
The Lion House caging is old, and has not been renovated in any way. The  
"gutter" the article described is the space between the cages and the public -  
approximately 4 feet wide where the keeper rolls a wheel barrel containing tubs 
 of weighed meals for the different cats during feeding time. There is a  
moving slot that swings back so the food can be dropped inside the cage. The bar  
set of all the cages is the same - I think Tatiana was able to reach her arms 
 underneath the bar set, I'd say at least a 6 to 8 inch gap between the bar 
set  and the cement flooring of the cage.
 
I'm not saying that zoo's are right, but I'm just trying to clarify some of  
this. 
 
sos
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