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yuoofox wrote : I don't want to become paranoid by thinking about this, but I've seen zoo enclosures that probably aren't secure enough.  I mean, I'm not an animal expert, but I've seen enclosures that seemed as if the animal might get out if it really really wanted to.   Regardless of the cause of this tragedy, hopefully zoos will now double-check their enclosures.

That IS true.  Just like the SanFran Tiger enlosure was known to be 4 feet short, but it was in a line of margin, that it did not have to be rebuilt

Another big issue seems to be that the moat wasn't filled with water.  With water in there, there's absolutely no way that the tiger could even make that shorter leap.

agreed

This will likely have sad reprocussions throughout the zoo-world... The local one here has roofs on all their living environments...
Oh yeah, I checked last time. Cougars are not interested in laser pointers. (green or red).
Neither are Tigers.
Bobcats love them.

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sabercat wrote : This will likely have sad reprocussions throughout the zoo-world... The local one here has roofs on all their living environments...

Knee-jerk reactions and legislation are always so much fun, I hope the repercussions in this case are not too severe.

The only thing that should be done is to ensure that all zoos are up to code.  The codes are more than sufficient, so long as they're met.  Sadly, there will probably be some ridiculous restrictions that do nothing to actually help keep the animals and visitors safe - only serving to make the animal enclosures even more enclosing and restricting visitors' viewing abilities.

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John wrote : The only thing that should be done is to ensure that all zoos are up to code.  The codes are more than sufficient, so long as they're met.  Sadly, there will probably be some ridiculous restrictions that do nothing to actually help keep the animals and visitors safe - only serving to make the animal enclosures even more enclosing and restricting visitors' viewing abilities.

My thought exactly, nothing more should be done but likely you are right, as that's how it usually goes after a tragic event.

More restrictions and the associated costs might also cause some zoos to evaluate whether they can keep their doors open or not, I wouldn't be surprised if some people wanted restrictions to be tightened because of that reason.

Hello, everyone.  Shortly after I heard the news about the tragedy, I wrote an email to the Tallahassee Museum, and today I received their reply.  For privacy, I have deleted specific names.  (Yes, I know you can find out by Google, but I still think this is more proper.)

- - -

Edit:  On second thought, let me ask the Animal Curator person's permission first before I post his email on a forum.  

--Last edited by yuoofox on 2008-01-04 05:48:45 --

Yuoofox, now you're keeping us all in suspense!

Anyway, here's an update on the tiger story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320450,00.html

"Police officials previously have said that an empty vodka bottle was on the front seat of the car the three young men drove to the zoo last week."

I've got to agree though with the part that said the tigers shouldn't be able to escape, even if they're being teased.  But what kind of idiot teases tigers?  (OK, a drunken one.)

Now that they are reopened... attendance is up!

Update:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In new court documents police said one of the three victims mauled at the San Francisco Zoo by a tiger was intoxicated and admitted standing atop a railing of the big cat enclosure and yelling and waving at the animal.

The documents, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, said 19-year-old Paul Dhaliwal told the father of the boy that was killed, Carlos Sousa Jr., that the three boys yelled and waved at
the tiger, but they insisted they never threw anything into its pen to provoke the cat.

The Chronicle said that the affidavit, which requested a search warrant for the surviving victims' cells phones and car, also cites multiple reports of a group of young men taunting animals at the zoo.

The affidavit said toxicology results for Dhaliwal showed that his blood alcohol level was 0.16 percent after the attack, twice the legal threshold for drunkenness, while his 24-year-old brother Kulbir Dhaliwal's blood alcohol level was 0.04 percent and Sousa's was 0.02 percent.

Police also allege that all three had marijuana in their systems.

Just another update... VERY sad... these guys are slime.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Two brothers who were attacked by an escaped tiger at the San Francisco Zoo have filed claims against the city alleging negligence and defamation.

Attorney Mark Geragos submitted papers on behalf of Kulbir and Paul Dhaliwal seeking monetary compensation for "serious physical and emotional injuries" this week. The claims are a prerequisite for filing a civil lawsuit.

The documents allege the city and the San Francisco Zoological Society failed in their duty to provide a safe zoo environment, defamed the brothers by spreading lies about their possible role in provoking the attack and improperly impounded Kulbir Dhaliwal's car.

I can't stand Geragos.  I don't think I've ever been on the same side of an issue as he.  And, now that he's involved in this "case", it's going to once again be plastered all over the news.

The worst part is that he'll probably win.  The mere thought that those drunk and drug-induced assholes are going to profit off of this incident pisses me off beyond belief.  In my opinion, they should be charged for both the death of their friend and that of the tiger.

And now I'll step off my soapbox...

Agreed completely. It's a very sad commentary on our society and the legal system in general.

I agree.  I can't stand the type of lawyer who does this sleazy type of thing or jerks who get high, get their friend and a tiger killed and then blame someone else for it.