[FEL-L] 2 tiger attacks

[Gary Breuckman]

Sheriffs: 2 tiger attacks show tougher laws needed

By BETSY TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

(08-06) 08:52 PDT ST. LOUIS (AP) --

Two tiger attacks this week at two different Missouri animal
facilities that had both been cited for past problems have law
enforcement officials calling for tougher exotic animal laws.

On Monday, a 16-year-old worker entered a tiger pen at the Predator
World attraction in southwest Missouri to take pictures for a visitor
and was attacked by three of the big cats. The boy, Dakoda Ramel,
remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Springfield hospital.
There was no immediate response to a call seeking an update on his
condition Wednesday.

Just the day before, a separate tiger attack in eastern Missouri cost
a 26-year-old volunteer part of his leg. Jacob Barr's leg below the
knee was amputated after he was attacked by a tiger Sunday at the
Wesa-A-Geh-Ya animal facility in Warrenton. Barr faced more surgery
Wednesday at a St. Louis hospital.

Federal officials have pointed to problems at both facilities. A 2007
U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection at Predator World noted
three instances of animals getting out of their pens: two wolves that
escaped into the community; a grizzly bear that remained on the
property but was able to kill a tiger; and a fox that was hit by a
car.

The Wesa-A-Geh-Ya facility, which used to have a license to exhibit
its animals through the USDA, surrendered that license in 2003 and
then had it revoked after a number of violations involving animal
care were alleged.

Critics say a patchwork of laws means no single agency in the state
or nation is responsible for law enforcement and inspections related
to exotic animals like large carnivores. One of the tiger owners,
while deeply upset by the tiger attack, said she thinks existing
regulations contributed to the problem.

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said he'd like the state to
improve exotic animal laws, but in recent weeks he proposed changes
at the county level.

"I think it's such a politically charged topic: What do you do with
these exotic animals?" he said.

Both Harrison and Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill, where the other
tiger attack took place, said in Missouri owners are supposed to
register their exotic animals with their sheriff's department. But
they said the law doesn't specify how soon after possessing an animal
someone must register. The law also lacks requirements for proper
enclosures, or how often the registration needs to be updated.

The Missouri Department of Conservation visits Wesa-A-Geh-Ya at least
annually to check on animal species that are native to the state,
like mountain lions, wolves and a bear - though the wolves at
Wesa-A-Geh-Ya are Arctic wolves.

"There's never been any problem with them mistreating the animals or
problems with the enclosures," said Dan Zarlenga, a spokesman for the
Department of Conservation.

But the agency does not inspect animals not native to Missouri, like
the tigers.

Sandra Smith, one of the owners of Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, said existing
regulations are confusing and problematic. She said she had wanted to
make cages more secure but was told she couldn't without a local
permit.

"If there's going to be more regulations, put someone on the job who
knows what they're doing," she said.

Smith said she's getting out of animal care altogether. She said
she's started looking for new homes for the 49 animals on her
property.

Harrison said Wesa-A-Geh-Ya owners needed to take responsibility for
the tiger attack, saying they were the ones who decided to house wild
animals on the site behind chain-link fences.

Predator World did not respond to requests for comment.

The USDA report on Predator World, provided to The Associated Press
by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, notes that two of
the previous animal incidents at the facility occurred during storms.

The fox escaped after a tree fell on its enclosure during an ice
storm. The bear also escaped from its enclosure when a tree limb fell
after a storm "allowing it to enter the enjoining enclosure and kill
an adult female tiger."

Hill said that if exotic animal owners don't register the creatures,
authorities will not have accurate, updated information about what
potentially dangerous animals are residing in their counties during
severe weather.