Tiger Tragedy | TakePart Social Action Network™

Giulia Rozzi December 27, 2007 | 9:45 am EST

Investigators are trying to figure out if one of the boys mauled by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo, may have taunted the animal.

Does this really matter? I mean, sure it’s not nice to taunt animals however it’s also not nice to take them out of their natural habitat, cage them, and put them on display. Teenagers taunt one another everyday, I’m not shocked to hear that a teenager may have taunted a tiger at the zoo.

Carlos Sousa, the father of 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. who was killed by the tiger, told Good Morning America “I don’t think my son would do something like taunt animals. It’s unbelievable, but only the evidence can prove that. And right now I can’t say much.”

Evidence? Are police really going to prove that poor Carlos Jr. provoked the attack on Tatiana, the same tiger that last year ripped the flesh off a zoo keepers arm?

Remember when that tiger attacked Roy of Siegfried and Roy? Have we not yet learned that sometimes Tigers get a bit temperamental?

Police shot Tatiana, the 300-pound animal to death after it killed Sousa and severely mauled two brothers who also were visiting the zoo. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, police found a shoe and blood in an area between the gate and the edge of the animal’s 25- to 30-foot-wide moat, prompting the possibility that one of the victims dangled a leg or other body part over the edge of the moat.

For more on Tigers and wildlife conservation visit http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/tiger.php

Comments

9 Responses to “Tiger Tragedy”

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Just for the record,Roy even said the Tiger,Montecore did not attack him,but was trying to drag him away from all the people because he knew Roy was not well,something was wrong. If Montecore meant to hurt Roy, Roy would be dead. As far as this SF incident,I can boldly say that boy brought this upon himself. He was found at the gate the tiger escaped from,obviously he taunted the tiger and thought it would be “funny” to let him out. By his own admission on myspace the boy was “high”. That boy created a tragic incident,now a tiger is dead and his parents are suffering. Human stupidity makes many mourn.
Geri December 27, 2007 | 5:34 pm EST

You’re points about captive animals are all valid. My view is if the tiger did not kill Carlos something else would have. His myspace page is riddled with drug speak. His own last post-made the day he died said he was high.
haywood December 28, 2007 | 1:51 pm EST

Hope the tiger didn’t die with indigestion
tiger December 29, 2007 | 8:52 pm EST

Those kids played Russian Roulette with the tiger and lost. So sorry, but I don’t blame the tiger. Punks should’ve left the poor creature alone.
Philip Dewar January 2, 2008 | 5:43 pm EST

You’re darn right that it really matters! Obviously Carlos’ father would never think that his little boy would do anything wrong. And in no way do I wish death upon anyone, but from his own admissions for the world to see the boy has proven to be no pillar of society. Who goes to a zoo drunk and stoned if they aren’t planning on causing some sort of trouble? Sorry, but it sounds like they all asked for it.

I do agree, however, that it “isn’t nice to take them out of their natural habitat”, but when you do - RESPECT THEM!
tbt January 2, 2008 | 6:13 pm EST