"Somebody created a situation that really agitated her and gave her some sort of a method to break out," Mollinedo said. "There is no possible way the cat could have made it out of there in a single leap. I would surmise that there was help. _____ I'm shocked that the SF Zoo director would come to this conclusion.
12.5 feet? Not good at all. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i8Ynebb2fhg&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i8Ynebb2fhg&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I remember visiting the Memphis Zoo and going through the big cat section and I was real paranoid. There seemed to be nothing there from stopping those cats from just leaping over the barriers they had in place.
RIP...I personally don't think anyone deserves to die, even if they provoked it..It's a bad situation that went from bad to worse and maybe we'll hear from the kids that survived to shed some light...
Why the hell don't they tranquilize the damn tiger? RIP Confused, Hungry, Agitated Tiger... BTW, I can't wait to hear the story of the 2 guys. If house cats can jump pretty high, wouldn't the same apply to tigers?
Man I'm sorry, but if you actually climb the walla nd start dangling body parts I have no sympathy for you. That is beyind stupid....
There's a huge difference between doing moronic things and doing life-threatening moronic things. Not all moronic things are created equal. In fact, what they did not only jeopardized their own lives, but also lives of others who were visiting the zoo that day. It's a blessing that the tiger did not hurt innocent visitors while out of the cage. THAT would've been a true tragedy.
This is a hidden gem in the SF Chronicle coverage... from a list of "past San Francisco Zoo incidents": "March 1971: A 300-pound female tapir escapes from her compound and is found wandering on Sloat Boulevard. The tapir bounds over two police cars, denting both, and then knocks a police officer to the ground." (A tapir is like a big zebra-pig, by the way)
well last night on the news they were backing off a lot of reports. the police haven't confirmed someone had their leg over the fense. But they probably just want more evidence. it is going to be interesting to see what really happened.
The police got to it before the zoo employees with the tranquilizers were able to. At that point they don't have much of a choice, they've got to stop the threat however they can. I'm not sure how cops were able to get there from off site and find the tiger before the people that were at the zoo could.
Ever sped around the corner or down a street in your car with passengers in it as a teenager trying to live on the edge? Ever had a few beers, felt fine, and made it home? Ever pushed the gas as you saw a light turning yellow a few yards ahead of you because you couldn't sit through a red light? Ever ran a stop sign? Ever gone normal speed through a construction zone or a school zone because you didn't "see" anyone around? Ever cut someone off on the way to work because they wouldn't let you over and you figured if you forced your way into the lane they'd slow down? If so, it's a blessing that no innocent people died, but it's a shame you weren't killed and removed from the gene pool.
the zoo officials didn't even know how many tigers were loose. I'm going to guess this will fall on the zoo as much as more than the victims.
Anyone else get the impression that every night, when the zoo staff had left for the evening, Tatiana could be seen practicing her high jump and when she finally nailed it on Christmas eve she confidently climbed to the top of her enclosure looked around with a sense of accomplishment she thought to herself, "I can't wait for the next asshat who thinks it's funny to taunt me." Then she turned and quietly jumped back down into her pen. Being a Zoo animal has to suck but not as much as it sucks to be Carlos Sousa Jr. /levity anyone?
Seriousness aside, I do a see a Far Side comic there. I think the Zoo is screwed on this one. I mean, Clyde Drexler could dunk on an 11.5 foot rim - 12.5 just doesn't seem high enough.
I can't believe those cops were able to take out that tiger with handguns -- watch these 'hunters' in Africa trying to take down a lion... Graphic NSFW Spoiler <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0CNgwZgoKFc&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0CNgwZgoKFc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
