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of SF Zoo mismanagement.

I understand the Zoo is to blame for not feeling the tiger any more or less food, but you or KCBS should look into who gave the 3 underage young men alcoholic first before they want to the Zoo. Thank You David Lee DLEEJR1948@YAHOO.COM

It is not the fault of the San Francisco Zoo, but of the three yahoos who were drinking and taunting the cat. And now they are the victims? They should take responsibility for their actions and the consequences.

What goes around comes around.

It's too bad that a beautiful and innocent animal had to be killed due to the bad behavior of a few punks and the poor judgment of zoo "professionals." This world has an endless supply of punk troublemakers and not enough wild creatures.

Compelling about this report to me was the constant denials by zoo officials more, zoo incompetence!!-I'm not an animal expert but if my cat misses a meal her behavior changes. Until Zoo management makes significant changes and accepts some responsibility I'm not taking my family.

Enough is enough. While I still think the three individuals caused a lot of their own problems, it's obvious the SF Zoo mismanages the money it receives and can't effectively put together a decent zoo. The zoo was a joke when I was a kid, and that was 30 years ago....the best thing to happen is to lay off the staff, give the animals to zoos that actually care, and turn the zoo grounds into a park. The only other chance for the zoo to regain any clout would be to privitize it -- no city involvement -- and have it run by the San Diego Zoo management.

Thank you for this information and fact-filled piece. It's amazing the zoo vet just acts as if nothing is wrong with a tiger dropping more than 50 lbs. Yet another sign of zoo mismangement and problems with animals care. Poor Tatiana ... what a sad life.

I was in tears by the end of your informative program today. As if what happened to Tatiana on Christmas wasnt enough, it was prefaced by months of hunger and unhappiness. What are we doing to these animals? Why cannot they be sent to a sanctuary with room to roam?

Nobody knows what the three youths did. We do know that the wall was not high enough. And today we find that the tiger was as hungry as a bear. Let's take three bags filled with 5 million dollars each and leave the bags on the doorstep of each of the survivors and the family of the one who died with a note signed by Gavin saying "Sorry".

You're optimistic if you think $5 million will be enough

The mayor doesn't care about the animal problems and neither do any of the city committees set up to oversee it.

It has been proven in this incident that the zoo has lied about what was going on with these animals. Who cares what these kids or the other hundreds of rowdy school kids that have visited the zoo ever do in front of the animals?? People always act silly in front of the animals. That doesn't mean a tiger should be able to escape!! What if this was your child that was at the zoo that day? Its prejudice to blame this on the kids. Pure and simple. Shame on the Zoo for not taking care of the animals and shame on all of the people blaming these kids for this incident.

Too bad some people think that human beings, no matter how vexatious, miscreant and unrepentant, are more valuable than anything else on the planet. I wonder how long it will take for them to spend the settlement they'll surely win from the City beforethey end up as wards of the justice system.

Are we still talking about this when there are bigger things happening in the world?!?!?! People please, do your research about animals before you make emotional comments about the animals in zoos. The keepers and staff who work at the SF zoo are exceptional in the care and management of these animals and I know this because of personal experience!

Or at least change it into a place that is concerned about animals, not big paychecks. Thank you KCBS for doing this story. I wish other news outlets would do the same when things like this happen.

Why was this zoo feeding her horsemeat? Do you have any idea where horsemeat comes from in this country? It's an incredibly cruel food source and many zoos have phased it out for their big cats. Once again, the SF Zoo is making the worst choice possible.http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/slaughter/sindex.htm

First of all the 3 boys that taunted the Tiger although they denied it are defintiely guilty in my opinion. Any animal that is mis-treated and taunted domestic animal obviously too, are going to react and respond to the situation. The fact Zoo management kept repeated records notating losing weight and continually hungry makes me seriously question their ability to properly care for this Tiger along with all the other animals in their care! Why was bloodwork not done or a urinalysis etc. Typically in domestic cats, if a cat is continuously ravenous, the cat can be Diabetic or have Hyperthyroidism or other underlying issues. It is not normal behavior and should be a cause of concern. The fact the staff just kept stating the cat was of satisfactory weight and just acting hungry is ludicrous. The significant weight loss factor should have immediately been a red flag! This magnificant Tiger truly did not deserve to die and was most likely a victim of circumstances - being hungry or possibly starved and because of that extremely agitated at being taunted it had had enough and lashed out.

Vodka, Marijuana Found In Car, Court Documents Say POSTED: 4:04 pm PST January 17, 2008 UPDATED: 5:57 pm PST January 18, 2008 [FACEBOOK: Tiger Attack Victim Makes An Admission] SAN FRANCISCO -- A new San Francisco Chronicle report said police found drugs and alcohol in the systems of the victims of the deadly Christmas Day tiger attack. One of the men admitted to taunting the wild animal, according to the newspaper. According to court documents obtained by the Chronicle, new facts back up the theory that Tatiana the tiger was provoked. Human tragedy aside, who would protect the innocent tiger?

I am very sad that the Zoo I loved as a child would starve an animal. That is so sad. What were they thinking?

Starve Tatiana until she's mean, then tease her. Riiight. Anybody can jump higher if they lose 50 pounds - that's basic physics.

Thank you for this report. How sad to hear how this poor animal had suffered for months hungry and living in antiquated and small enclosures. How unfortunate that it took the death of this beautiful creature and someone's child (albeit a drunk child) to bring attention to the chronic mismanagement of this facility.I am appalled at the "vet's" denial of any problems with this animal. Seems like she is the only person who didn't see it. Bring in new management and build a proper zoo or close it.

what a shame. too bad for tatiana, and the horses used as food. where's their advocates. buncha hippocrates

sad

Anyone who's ever had a dog or cat can tell it acts differently when dinner is late than when it's on time. Why could a reporter see that the tiger was agitated at mealtime and the vet couldn't? Because the vet had a theory about how a tiger should look, instead of just looking at the tiger. This man should not be give responsibility for the care of animals. He's not paying attention to what they're telling him, and he won't listen to the keepers, either. I hope he's the next one to resign.

WHY do Zoo's exist? I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg - they should be shut down it is outrageous to starve an animal and the only reason I can think of is the "public feeding" they probably liked the way she behaved for the "public" and realized that starvation would cause the behavior. Close the Zoo now.

The yahoos that went to the zoo for purpose of cruelty to animals should be locked up w/ the management of the zoo and why are they feeding horsemeat to the animals - don't they know how horrible that whole mess is? What a disgusting place.

The San Francisco Zoo needs to do a better job of explaining Tatiana's dietary requirements and the reasons for the changes they made to her routine so quickly after she arrived from the Denver Zoo. I hope there is an explanation that makes sense. Inthe meantime, however, I hope all the extremists will refrain from judging all zoos based on what one does or doesn't do. -- Zoovisitor

I was outraged when I heard about the Tatiana's weight loss. I agree the zoo shoud be closed and the animals given to zoos that care. I visited the zoo not long ago and what a mess. None of the animals looked happy and their habitats were dismal. Incomparison to the San Diego zoo and other zoos I visited the SF zoo is awful. Even the KCBS reporter at the zoo said it was distressing to see Tatiana and hear her roaring. Wouldn't we all want to roar if our food was reduced month after month.

The same email I sent to support the zoo last night. "How sad to hear the news (KCBS) the continued abuse suffered by Tatiana; not receiving enough sustainable food. What a horrible life for her to endure and then be shot to death. I visited the SF Zoo recently (before the shooting) and was appalled at the apparent lack of care, horrible worn-out enclosures, and general unhappiness of these beautiful creatures that will someday be extinct. It was so depressing we immediately left. How can San Francisco be proud of a place that obviously needs to be closed. Please consider the quality of life for these beautiful animals and ship them zoos that actually care, then do us all a favor and close the San Francisco Zoo." I had tears streaming down my face listening to the news last night regarding her sad and short life. Donna

Close the Zoo now Send the animals to a humane habitat

This is yellow journalism in its lowest form. You have taken information leaked by a disgruntled employee and managed to concoct the most insane piece of drivel I can ever remember reading. If Tatiana was truly "frantic for food" how do you explain the fact that she killed Mr. Souza and left the body, to continue stalking the Dawalhi Brothers? Anyone with even the most basic knowledge of a Big Cat%u2019s hunting mode will tell you she would have either immediately eaten, or tried to move her "kill" to a safe spot. Furthermore, if she were malnourished, she would not have physically been able to make the great leap she did. As to the December 07 keeper incident, you neglected to mention that the keeper took a piece of food AWAY from Tatiana and had her arm in a place that Tatiana could reach. An overweight house cat would be provoked by that!

- Why did a young healthy tiger lose 50 pounds after coming to SF? - Why was she fed so much less in SF than in Denver when Denver said she wasn't overweight? - Why did the zoo feed her more after the attack on the keeper, then reduce the diet back to the previous amount five weeks later without weighing her again? - If the zoo was concerned enough to increase her diet the day after she weighed in at 260, why weren't they concerned enough to feed her more when she got down to 255? And when she dropped to 244? Was anyone paying attention? Were they concerned increasing the diet after the attack on the zookeeper would make them look responsible for what happened? - Is it just a coincidence that the same tiger was responsible for two attacks, the same one that keepers noted was "very hungry" and "frantic for food?" As one of the people interviewed in the report said, it doesn't take a professional to know that something was wrong.

I am horrified and appalled to read that Tatiana existed in a state of semi-starvation for her two years at the zoo, and was "frantic for food" most of the time. What a horrible existence for a magnificent animal. locked in a cage and unable to find adequate food. Her weight loss should have triggered an increase in feeding amounts, but it is the usual CYA by zoo officials, especially the veterinarian Jacqueline Jencek. This uncaring, and likely incompetent vet is justifying her starvation of Tatiana. Jancek should have her ass fired immediately.. The entire zoo administration needs to be cleaned out and replaced by people who care about animals more than the business...

Go back to your day job at the zoo. No one who cares about animals wants to read your horsesh*t.

Does it matter if the tiger was off on it's weight at the ime of the attack? Let's get to the REAL PROBLEM,these irresponsible people went out of their way and beyond where they should have been to taught this animal.This would happen to any wild animal,if it was taughted too,it's it's only defense.These people have broken the rules the zoo has established and NOW NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES,not the zoo or the City of San Francisco.Let's all remember that the zoo has wild animals,that's why these rules are in place.So can we put the weight,wall and any other issue's with the way the zoo handles it's animals to rest please,they are the professionals.Wouldn't you be upset if someone was taughting you?

As a person who works with wildlife it is preposterous to suggest that Tatiana was hungry. If she was hungry, why didn't she eat instead of maul her tormentors? Use common sense. Her "home" was threatened and she defended it. My only wish for justice in this situation is for the survivors to be penned in and ridiculed and teased preferably by animals. A precious bloodline was lost with Tatianas slaying and that is a tragedy. I mourn her every day.

How the heck are we all experts in the care of wild animals? Why are we attacking the vet who spent years caring for the animals when we don't even know much of anything about the hows and whys of wildlife care? Think about it: do you think the vet would be so stupid enough to destroy her career by underfeeding a zoo animal for the sake of, say, saving the zoo money? Why would any rational person do that? That makes no sense. I think the issue here is that we shouldn't comment on the stuff we don't know about. Leave that to the SF Investigators and whatever independent experts they hire to solve this unfortunate issue.

Just visited the zoo. It is evident they do not manage their funds. Most exhibits are in disrepair and closed. The animals they do have in exhibit are sluggish without any energy. i am not surprised the cat lost 50 pounds and the zoo should be held accountable for the mismanagement of the zoo. Great investigative reporting. By the way the lion house is closed again, no elephants, zebra, yes I said Zebra, only one, locked up. You would be better off visiting the pet store. I thought the Sacramento Zoo was bad but a big city like SFO should be ashamed of the horrible condition in which the zoo is in. I would hate to see what happens behind closed doors and what is available to the public is a sham and smells of poor care.

Are you serious? The examples of irrational acts by "rational persons" could fill a small library. But that aside, the San Francisco Zoo is a privately operated facility contracted by local government. As such, they must meet corporate financial targets in order to maintain fiscal balance, if not profitability. And in a city where a zoo is well down the list of funding priorities - and this is the reason for contracting the zoo in the first place - failure on the part of the contractor to maintain anything more than the absolute minimum standard of care can be the only expectation. The reduction in animal feed, substandard facilities, and substandard care is necessary to support a poorly attended zoo in an environment that is more than inadequate for non-indigenous species. There is no reason short of municipal ego for San Francisco to even have a zoo. The weather and space conditions here are the worst! Though this is true of many zoos, SF is a worst case example and the conditions most of the "wild" animals live in are truly appalling - including the fog-bound weather. CLOSE THE SF ZOO and move the animals to other care-focused facilities. There are several in this state - San Diego foremost among them.