KCBS Expanded Coverage: SF Tiger Attack

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Even tho I'm against the caging of wild animals, zoos are a necessary evil in the protection of near extinct animals. I am very much against zoos containing animals that are not in their natural habitat, such as polar bears in Arizona, etc. If we're going to protect them in a controlled environment such as a zoo, let's keep them as close to their natural habitat as possible. Oh, and p.s. - don't taunt the tigers!

In light of the possibility that the tiger was able to leap out of its grotto, shouldn't other zoos be looking at the dimensions of their moats, walls and fences?

Why won't the cops say what the survivors are telling them happened? If the brothers aren't talking, then tell us they're not talking.

I find this to be a stupid question. What diference does it make if it were a Tiger, Elephant, monkey, ostrich, or a rat? Should any animals be barred or kept at a zoo if it escaped and harmed a human being? IF so, you wouldn't have a zoo. Your question should have been " what can a zoo do to prevent human taunting of animals, security measures, visitor awareness program, education, etc. Seeing that the tiger has been in its caged surrounding for sometime and never escaped should tell you something about how secure it has been until now which tells me the animal was enticed or taunted to instinctively act as tigers naturally would do. I think something had set off this animal to go after something it had seen or been enticed to go after it.

WHY do people want to see animals in concrete cages? It is cruel and without purpose, and they are helpless against the idiots that taunt them and throw rocks - why isn't there a guard to prevent this crap? Shut down all zoos and circus animal acts. Thezoo cages could house the overflow from the prison system

This is clearly a very tragic situation for all involved. While the families have my sympathy, I have a problem applying the term "hero" to the deceased until all the facts are known. If this was a totally unprovoked event, then the actions of the deceased would in fact be heroic. If, however, these guys are found to have in any way provoked the tiger, then they simply got what they deserved. What we know so far is that these guys have a history of minor arrests as a result of poor decision making. The surviving brothers reportedly aren'tsaying much to police, or anything to the family of their friend. That doesn't bode well so far for them. The facts will come out. If it was unprovoked, then it's a tragedy. The zoo will be held accountable. The families can and should expect a hefty financial settlement. The victim will rightfully be called a hero. However, it is was provoked by them, the tiger is the only victim, the only heros are the cops and paramedics, the injured and dead got what they deserved,and the zoo should sue to cover its loss.

First, the habitat should be ESCAPE PROOF. Second, people should bem told NOT TO BOTHER THE ANIMALS. A security guard can do that. Third,( if 1 or 2 isn't done, sell all of the animals or release them to their native environs and build York a 49er stadium on the land.

I wish there were a video of what happened in the cage. I have trouble believing that three guys of those ages at the zoo on Christmas were not up to something that they should not have been. If that is the case, then I wish that damages and costs to the public agencies would be collected from them rather than these individuals collecting money from the zoo / general public. We need to make individuals responsible for their actions and stop letting people benefit from their own stupid actions. Let natural selection / evolution do its job!

Now that a tiger escapes and kills someone, we are saying that the height of the enclosure is less than what it should be?? Why was this not addressed years ago??? I think the company that oversees the SF Zoo should take a good walk around the entire zooand see what else needs to be fixed! This tiger should have been killed after it mauled the trainer last year.

It's not been proven yet, but due to the past history of bad behavior of the two brothers involved in this incident, it does seem apparent to me that this tiger was provoked. Unfortunate as it may be, there are consequences in life!

While I don't believe the zoo is the cause of this tragedy, I do wonder why they were so lax about situations that may have contributed to it. Why is the public allowed to roam unsupervised after dark? Why are there no docents or security personnel to prevent possible harrassment of the animals?

I am sorry to the parents who lost their child. Clearly though, this animal was taunted. The question I have is, why would it purposefully follow the 'brothers' to the Terrace Cafe, when all along the way there are elk and other animals it could have harmed. It definately wanted those boys for some reason.

Why did she just jump out of her area now after being there for 3 years already? She was provoked!!!

Were the boys tested for alcohol at the hospital?

I want to know whay this happened. If it's true that these boys taunted the Tiger, the boys diserve the brunt of the blaim. The zoo does as well, but hanging your leg over a Tiger incloser is asking for trouble.

Well, there are big cats and shiould eb treated as wild creatures. The three jerks, one is dead and the other two are in the hospital. They are as gulity as sin. Becauise they are refusing to talk with police. Have a reputaion as truble makers. They teased the tiger and the the tiger gave them what they desereved. When they get out of the hospital. we should throw them back in the tiger pit. They deserve everything that is coming to them. Teasing a tiger thinking it was funny and ok, well no, one person ios dead and they were hurt. So, let jsutuice be done, feed them to the Tigers. From Down & Out in Tracy Al Galaviz

Why was the zoo an attraction for these young men? I wonder if drugs or alcohol were involved, or if they were just bored and got themselves into trouble. The SF Zoo needs to update its security to protect the animals from the patrons and the patrons from each other. How to explain the lax security, the fact that the emergency plan wasn't followed? And why were zoo staff unsure of how many tigers were out? If they started with four tigers, how about counting the number of animals remaining in the enclosure? It is incredible that patrons were exposed to such danger.

Keeping an animal cooped up like that, just for our enjoyment, is wrong. It is cruel. (And I am NOT an animal rights person, or PETA member. Keeping wild animals for breeding or research purposes is OK, but not for entertainment. So close it. Put the remaining animals out to other zoos (so they don't take out of the wild). We could build low cost housing for illegal immigrants!

I was sitting at lunch with some co-workers and an interesting theory developed about zoo attack. This looks like a gang initiation or some kind of dare. They are unwilling to talk about what they were doing there, but it was closing time and the only chance to hang their friend over the side without being seen by any witnesses. Why were three juvenile males there on xmas day all the way from san jose. Just a theory, thanks

(Section 7(a) (2)). It forbids any government agency, corporation, or citizen from taking (i.e. harming, harassing, or killing) endangered animals without a permit. The Act contains a citizen suit clause, (Section 11) which allows citizens to sue the government to enforce the law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act %u201CThe decision states that federal law explicitly allows citizens to participate in the implementation and enforcement of the Endangered Species Act%u2026%u201D http://www.earthjustice.org/our_work/victory/judge_dismisses_plum_creek_harrassment_lawsuit.html If the family of the boy who died are planning on suing anyone, I believe the only ones who should be held liable are the brothers who took the minor to the zoo without the parent's permission, and who actually lied to the father of the minor about an hour before the attack. When the father called the 19 year old brother and asked if his son was with him, it was reported that 19 year old answered that he hadn't seen him in days. Because of the timing, he had to be with the minor at the time of the call. There were rocks, sticks and pinecones found in the tiger's habitat. They were hitting her with these objects! She was protecting herself in the only way a tiger knows how. That is why she didn't go after anyone or anything else. Natural instinct.

(Section 7(a) (2)). It forbids any government agency, corporation, or citizen from taking (i.e. harming, harassing, or killing) endangered animals without a permit. The Act contains a citizen suit clause, (Section 11) which allows citizens to sue the government to enforce the law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act There were rocks, sticks and pinecones found in her habitat that zoo officials state could not have fallen in there on their own. The boys were hitting her with them. No wonder she went after them and no one else or any other animals. She was doing what tigers do, defending herself. The only lawsuit filed should be against the brothers. They were the adults who took the minor without the minor's parent's consent and possibly contributed to the delinquency of that minor, which caused the attack and his death ( as well as the death of an Endangered Species and risked the lives of the emergency responders, zoo staff and other guests.) Regardless if the wall was 4 feet lower than it was believed. The tiger would not have escaped if not provoked. California needs to start making people responsible for their actions and San Francisco needs to do the same.

For crying out loud, the police and zoo should tell us what they know about what happened. If the surviving victims aren't talking, just tell us that. The public has a right to know what is happening. After all, a 17 year old kid was killed at a public facility.

We the public are not going to learn what the police know anytime soon. A minor is dead. The question now is did the two adults engage in obviously unsafe behavior that resulted in that death. The fact that a tiger caused the injury is not the point. I see manslaughter charges coming.

why are the zoo's in existence? these animals should not be kept in cages so "humans" can yell at them and throw stuff-how about a reversal? Public feeding? please! people, mainly males, are disgusting always picking on someone that cannot fight back, but this time that backfired - good for the tiger and too bad an animal that beautiful had to pay the price of stupid, violent, dumb men. The two survivors should be locked up - about in a zoo?

Just looked @your poll - obviously, the public is the reason all of this continures - that 57% think a zoo is ok even one that kills elephants and keeps tigers in 3500 ft. of space is revolting. I guess the same people go to circus's and think they arealso ok even though animals are chained and beaten - what is wrong w/ "people"?

The bigger surprise in the poll is that 20% say the tigers should continue to be exhibited with no changes to their enclosure...??? Maybe that voted before it became obvious the tiger climbed out of that moat.

think about it

Interesting poll results-21% say all is ok, 59% think ok w/ added security! What would that be? The animals are allready confined to a cement grotto w/ 3500 ft. space to "roam" and bars so the public can stare, harass, throw stuff and be disrespectful.What next? The whole zoo should be closed or used to house San Quentin inmates! How about Scott Peterson on view for all to harass or maybe OJ? Oh, I forgot they are "human" and deserve the best confinement possible. Yuk!

Wild animals SHOULD NOT be exhibited in zoos nor kept in confinement!! This is EXTREMELY CRUEL!! The last time my husband and I went to the S.F. Zoo several years ago, we both left TERRIBLY DEPRESSED after seeing the animals pacing the interiors of thecages, looking for a way out, as well as the elephants being forced to perform, as if they were circus animals! SHAME! SHAME! SHAME on anyone and everyone who thinks that a zoo is an adequate and kind environment for any wild animals!!!!!!

The brothers are the ones doing the covering up. If they weren't why aren't they talking to the police or the public? Why are they refusing to tell what happened and lawyering up? If they were innocent, they wouldn't be acting that way. Anyone whothinks they are innocent needs to wake up.

If there has to be a zoo get Jack to run it and fire that idiot who is there now - along w/ whatever incompetents are still there. I heard today on the radio that only 10% of the space alloted for the zoo is for the animals the rest is for human use! SO, I guess the humans should be behind the bars and the animals sent to sanctuaries if there are enough to handle them. I would probably visit if I could throw stuff at the"humans"

Men are responsible for this death and they were just released from the hospital. They are hostile, non-cooperative,and they lied to the victims father. They are the ones who need to be shut down.

It was a sad day when another highly endangered animal lost it's life due to humans "again!" The day it happened, I too questioned the timing of the incident and questioned what in the heck were three boys of those ages doing at the zoo on Christmas day. I totally believe that at least two of them had intentions to harass some animals. They waited till the zoo was almost empty and dark. The only problem with their plan was, they picked the wrong tiger. And now Tatiana and a young boy are dead and the perps are claiming they were the victims. I agree with Pat Darby of PAWS...Tatiana didn't just decide to go for a stroll. They harrassed her, so got fed up and she retaliated the only way she knew how. Good on ya, Tatiana. I'll miss ya...

They found an empty bottle of vodka on the front seat of the victims car.

where should tigers be kept, if not in a zoo? Be real

Well, it's official, they taunted the tiger. They are known criminal gang-bangers. It is INFURIATING they are trying to get rich by profiting from a STUPID stunt they pulled. Now we are supposed to believe what their slimy lawyer is saying? BS! They have kept their guilty mouths so shut tight that they wouldn't even ID their dead friend on Christmas day. They conspired from their tourneys in front of the paramedics to not say anything! Drunken scum should be happy they have their pathetic lives , take that and be happy, don't sue the zoo!

Bottom line: The brothers are responsible. They crossed over the rail, taunted, and broke the law. Not to mention- These moron gang-bangers are a dime a dozen. Tigers are an endangered speices.

I don't see this mentioned at all but the lawyer hired by the brothers is a CRIMINAL DEFENSE attorney. While I would never blame someone for consulting an attorney at anytime, isn't it interesting that they have hired an attorney who specializes in defending people from criminal charges. I feel they must have done something to provoke the attack.

Bottom line-don't tease an animal that is 4 times your weight,a meat eater and hunter.IF YOU KEEP KNOCKING ON THE DEVIL'S DOOR SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL ANSWER!

These thugs hired the attorney who represented Scott Peterson? They're clearly hoping to profit from this tragedy.

Do **NOT** Pay off these idiots for causing this incident. Regardless of whether or not the wall was lower tha initially expected or not, the tiger was well fed and would not have come after them if not extremely provoked. They should not profit from their criminal actions! By giving those brothers one red cent is rewarding them for their criminal behavior and invitings others to do so as well! 1) They were drunk in public (1 brother was not legally of age to drink) 2) They were under the influence of an illegal drug. 3) They did not have the permission of a minor's parents to have the 17 year old with them (as well as lied to his parent when asked about the whereabouts of that 17 year old) 4) There was blood found *INSIDE* the tigers habitat 5) There was a rock over 9 inches in length, that can do a lot of damage to any animal, found in the tiger's habitat, 6) There were pinecones & pine branches found in the tiger's habitat that could not have fallen in there on their own, they had to be put in there by someone else - likely the "boys". It all adds up to they are responsible for their own actions. They knew exactly what they were doing, they knew it was wrong and they chose to do it anyway. They need to face the consequences of their actions and SF & California needs to stop paying off people who get injured for their own stupidity by blaming others! PLUS, they should be charged with harrassing a federrally protected species which caused her death! Not to mention the loss of revenue for the zoo and the expenses for the emergency responders. AND ESPECIALLY SOUZA'S FAMILY!!!

I was employed at a mid-western zoo for several years in the early 70's and I can tell you with no hesitation that to get that tiger to do what it did it was severely taunted and most likely had been hit with thrown objects repeatedly . Tese animals will sulk away and trey to avoid any contact with people until you hit their breaking point which happened here , at which time they will very busy trying to get at their tormentors . those stupid ass kids would have all been killed if that cat was older or male . When you mix wild predators with plain ignorant stupidity all the safe guards in the world won't help the out come .

I entered the nes of this story on Jan 3 when I returned to SF BAy Area after the holidays. The first reaction wa sorrow over the death of the boy and the tige both. Then I began to read about these guys partnering up with Garegos, hiring private investigators of their own and refusinfg to allow an open public investigation. WOW. this has guilt all over it. What a sad event and what a disgusting defense. Garegos has hit an all time low.

Wouldn't even identify Carlos, let him lay unidentified until the 26th. Guilty lying idiots should have to pay the zoo for causing all the trouble and getting a beautiful animal killed. The tiger had more nobility than those scumbags will ever have.

If the authorities determine that teasing was taking place, the two brothers whould be charged with negligent homocide and also the costs of burial for the tiger and face animal cuelty charges.

First, you are over sensationalizing the snow leopard story and contributing to a unwarranted hysteria. Second, Geragos is totally shameful %u2013 he has become a gratuitous ambulance chaser. Third, there is something wrong with these boys %u2013 I believe they provoked the attack and it is disgusting that they will probably walk away from this as millionaires while the poor tiger and their friend are dead. Last, it is unfortunate that we need zoos since these beautiful creatures can%u2019t live in their natural habitat!

I'm glad I'm finally seeing responses to the questions and thoughts I have been having regarding the whole incident. I'm wondering if federal charges can be filed against these 'dumb-asses' for causing the death of this beautiful endangered animal. And I also believe these young men are guilty of torturing a caged "wild" animal. They should not received one red cent!!! The Sousa family should consider suing the people responsible for the death of their son, not the zoo. There has never been an escape from the big cat enclosed. The only reason it happened, was due to the actions of what have to be some of the dumbest people on earth! I hope the brothers fry for causing the death of not only their friend, but an innocent animal!

Was the tigger fed drug tainted food.

Regardles of whose to blame in this tragic event,the tiger did escape and theres only one finger to point there.A human being was killed because of several problems and it could have been worse. Believe me i understand many animals over there have been rescued and the zoo is a fantastic and educational facility we need to be very carefull. Craig,,Redwood City

From what I am gatherng from the comments, once again the animal only acting out of natural instinct has to pay for a human's stupidity. It's the same thing when a family is out on a trail for a walk during a KNOWN time for mountain lions to be out with their cubs. They come upon the mother lion with her cubs, do something to make the mother lion feel threatened (or stupidly turn and run, therefore, acting like prey for the lion), and she instinctively does what a mother with young would do. What happens? Does the human mother and/or father get shot for their lack of intelligence for being out in an area where they shouldn't? For subjecting themselves and their children to this kind of danger? NO! The mother lion gets shot and the cubs are orphaned! And the parents, if alive, are allowed to continue to procreate and further produce more stupid people like themseleves. This tiger is absolutely not at fault. If fault must be found, I'm with some of the other writers, if it is found there was no provocation from these teens to provoke the tiger in the first place, that the installers of the walls need to pay for the losses, not the zoo. Then, they need to revisiit and recalculate all the walls and all measurements of the walls to ensure they are correct for the animals they enclose. Aside from the issue at hand, I, too, cannot stand that animals are kept in concrete enclosures, and if they have to be in zoos for their protection, am in favor of them being enclosed in an environment that in some way closely mimics their natural environment. I don't even go to the zoo anymore because it is such a terribly depressing experience . . . and animal acts at circuses should be OUTLAWED ENTIRELY. Disgusting!

If the zoo stays honest and makes positive changes, they will recover from this tragedy. This horriable tragedy will serve as a lessons-learned tool for zoos around the globe.

Three idiots go looking for trouble. Looks like they were successful.

The only victim here id the tiger. It should be a crime to abuse, taunt, harass any animal. They gor what they deserved. It is obvoius they are guilty. They wouldn't be keeping silent, hiring a criminal defense attorney. I hopw the ambulance driver can be subpeoaned into court and report that they heard the brothers talk about keeping quiet. They need to be charged with the death of the tiger, and all losses of the zoo. Just some more pathetic citizens. 'you don't deserve to live. I'd like to throw you into the enclosure and let a tiger have at you both. Dumbasses!!!!!!!!!!!

From the facts released so far, these punks appear guilty and are now trying to manipulate the legal system for profit and pardon. The real tragedy is that a magnificent Siberian Tiger is dead. There are only about 400 alive in the wild and few hundred in captivity. When the tigers are gone, they are gone forever. On the other hand, gangbangers are running in packs and growing in numbers quite successfully. I say feed these punks, their lawyer, and any of their politically correct apologist friends to the tigers. Make it a public spectacle, like caning in Singapore, to serve as a lesson to other potential perps and kindred spirits.

At one point there was a report of a woman who witnessed 4 (not three) people taunting the tiger shortly before the attack took place. Was there any credibility to this woman's story ? What happened to her?. I think the tiger was provoked by the kids and its only a matter of time before SFPD can examine the car and cell phones of the brothers.

It is tragic a human life was lost. The real loss here is the death of a magnificent animal, Tatiana the tiger. Wild animals are becoming extinct and education at our City zoos is one tool in educating the public about how to help. We need to support our zoos, teach our young and respect the animals! Once the tigers are gone, we cannot bring them back. When the zoo was built, in the 50's, there was respect for rules and authority. If the authorities find these young men provoked the attack, I hope someone treats them the way the treated their unidentified friend Carlos and Tatiana!

I feel sorry the tiger had to be shot because the zoo attendent didn't believe the 911 operator and have the tranqulizer ready. I feel sorry for the boy that lost his life. But if the evidence shows the guys were messing with the tiger, I hope the two brothers and the other family doesn't get a dime. I do hope this sheds light on the much needed repairs to the zoo. I heard reports the zoo is 80% for the people & 20% for the aminals. That figure should be reversed. Let's make the zoo the kind of place we would be proud to have in our great city.

I find it totally irresponsible for the Mayor of San Fransisco to go on the air and say the zoo is unsafe and no matter what the boys did the zoo is responsible for their death and injuries. The City of San Fransisco will be sued and the Mayor shouldn'tbe helping their case.

My question is that why during the 911 calls why didnt the brother ever states that his friend had already been attack and possibly killed, NO I'll I heared was his brother was attacked by the tiger, and that his brother needed help. Why did he never mention his friend? What are these boys hiding??

Pay for the medical costs but thats it if more than that is awarded to them they do not deserve it. All these years the tiger did not jump the moat, it was the actions of these men for what she did. THEIR actions! Not the regular zoo goers.

The Zoo is really lucky only one person was killed and more people weren%u2019t attacked than were or that the tiger didn%u2019t escape from the Zoo and kill people in nearby neighborhoods. Listen to the audio tapes and think about it for a moment - the Zoo didn%u2019t even know the tiger got out of her enclosure. I wish the media would do some investigative journalism and tell us viewers who the inspectors were that approved the tiger%u2019s enclosure and what other possibly dangerous under code projects have San Francisco inspectors approved? Although different, this reminds me of the Whipple pit bull dog mauling story with Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel trying to avoid responsibility - only this time the City of San Francisco is doing everything it can to avoid responsibility. Why is SF above the law and why isn%u2019t the State investigating San Francisco like SF is investigating the victims and criminal charges brought against those who inspected the Zoo? Hmm, or maybe the tiger%u2019s wall was never really inspected? Thanks

Surely they would have been the victims then, this whole country needs to wake up and smell the double standards that exist!!Who has not gone to a zoo and teased animals ( the ones who say they haven't- are full of you know what!!) Grow up ! 18 feet is not equal to 12 feet....

Animals only kill to defend or to survive!I don't think Tigers at the SF Zoo go without food!

I support Tatiana, she was supposed to be protected and she lost her life.

Should people be screened before allowed to visit dangerous animals.