[FEL-L] SF tiger attack

[PureRaine at aol.com]

How bad was the keeper hurt? I did not see the incident myself, and I am  not 
a paramedic nor a doctor who is treating the keeper. I've heard the keeper  
is still in SF General as of yesterday, and she will be getting reconstructive  
surgery. I've also heard that there was a lot of blood loss, had the 
paramedics  been 5 minutes later, this would be more tragic than it is now. 
 
Whether or not the "eye witness" was reliable or hysterical since the  
lighting in the Lion House is indeed quite low, I could not be able to tell if  
there was any body part missing... so I'm not going to add to the speculation,  
rumors or hype. Lets put it this way, I believe any "bad" day I've ever had does 
 not compare to what that keeper had/is going through now. 
 
I'm sure the zoo management is seriously considering the options of  
additional wire protection for that area where there is a gap in the bars. The  zoo 
won't comment for the media the condition of the keeper, and the family  is not 
releasing any news to the media (understandable at this point), and won't  
allow any visitors. 
 
When/if  they open the Lion House again, I would be glad to inform  you. If 
you tell me ahead of time, I have free passes and parking for you (or I  can 
send them to you). Just remember to schedule your visit Tuesday thru Sunday  for 
the big cat feeding, they give the cats a break on Mondays (skip  Monday 
feedings to "simulate" the sporadic eating habits of the  wild).
 
All the residents of the Lion House are exceptional in temperament. They  
tolerate the public (like they have a choice...) and are better mannered than  
most of the public. 
 
suzi
 
In a message dated 1/2/2007 10:28:53 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
tim at lionlamb.us writes:

SOS,
So the way I read your comments is that it is  well known that the
tiger could reach out. Almost any caging system has  points like this.
the cats know it, and will use them to 'play'. The  keepers have to be
aware of this, and not encourage this kind of behavior.  Still, I think
this can be chalked up to a 'freak accident', as nothing  like it has
ever occurred. It also sounds like the changes you suggest  would go a
long ways towards preventing a repeat of this  incident.
Now the rest of the truth that needs to come out:  How bad was the
keeper really injured?
I do hope they keep  the lion house feedings going. And when they
start them back up, I would  like to come over to San Francisco and see
them for myself (5 hour drive,  easy day trip I have done a number of
times  before.)



Tim Stoffel


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.breuckman.com/pipermail/felines-l/attachments/20070103/7b4ec026/attachment.html