Who do you blame for the horrible tragedy concerning that tiger that escaped from the SF Zoo?

Answer 1

Well the evidence is pointing at the victims. If they were taunting the poor animal, or throwing things, well, what did they expect?? I'm truly sadden by this tragedy, but animals do not attack unprovoked!

Answer 2

In my opinion, every person is responsible for their own actions. If (and I do believe) that the young men were teasing the tiger, then they are 100% responsible for what happened to them and 50% responsible for the real tragedy: that an endangered species was killed as an effect of their actions. However, I do believe that the zoo is also 50% liable for what happened to the cat. While it is understood that people OUGHT to act responsibly and carefully around dangerous and powerful animals, it is the zoo's responsibility not only to protect the general public from the animals under NORMAL circumstances, but most importantly to protect the animals from the idiot humans. Perhaps if there was a security officer or a camera there, they might have thought twice before dangling themselves over the ledge or throwing and shouting at the tiger.
I think that the focus of the zoo, and most zoos, is displaced. Instead of focusing on protecting the humans, they should focus on protecting their animals from being mistreated by humans. This tiger behaved as any normal alpha female would. Every person assumes the risk when they walk into a zoo (or leave their house for that matter), accidents happen and events unforseen do in fact occur. That's life.
Unfortunately this was a 100% preventable occurrence which would never have happened if these troublemakers hadn't toyed with nature. No one can predict what an animal is capable of doing when threatened. The new surveillence cameras they're installing are long overdue. I would have loved to see these teenaged troublemakers getting their comeupance.

Answer 3

Regardless if the people provoked Tatiana, the retaining wall obviously is not sustainable and the moat did not deter her either. Where there was a previous incident with Tatiana attacking her trainer while being fed is another issue.

I am sorry that there was loss of life, but both parties (the young man and the tiger) are gone.

Hopefully the SF zoo will reinforce/build taller retaining walls. Without all the details, no one will ever really know what happened or who should be at fault here.

Answer 4

It's is hard to say right now. The zoo officials admitted they lied about the size of the retaining walls size, they found a tennis shoe inside the containment area & the Police talked with the 2 brothers & neither one was very cooperative. If I had to guess, I think the tiger was provoked by the teens. The attack took place outside the confinement area & the shoe was inside. Wild animals should never be provoked & their only defense is to attack. I feel sad for the loss of the 1 boys life & the pain his parents are suffering. The worst part is the tiger had to be killed too. They could of just injured the tiger but chose to kill it. The outcome of this story should be very interesting.

Answer 5

Well whether it was those boys are not...something set her off to attack. But I do believe something set her off. I only believe that because out of all of the people at the zoo that evening she went after them. If you think about her getting loose like that...all those people in the zoo would have been an open buffet for her.

I think what a big problem is people get stupid in zoo's. They don't seem to realize that that animal is caged for a reason. And just because she was breed in captivity doesn't mean the wild instinct was breed out of her.

If you want to know my opinion...I do think the zoo had bigger fault in it. Just because of what I've read they weren't fully prepared after the attack. I've read that the officers reporting to the scene said it was poorly lit and that they could barely see, plus they weren't offered or given any maps for inside the zoo. So they had to figure out where to go in a 125 acre zoo. Plus there weren't cameras near her cage.

I think if cameras were installed there wouldn't be so much speculation on what really happened. Plus the could review the tapes from time to time and see if local visitors are teasing or abusing the animals. I bet you a sign posted that read

"Leave the Animals Alone...Your on Camera!" would defer a lot of stupid people from fooling around with the animals.

Answer 6

A lot of people had a hand in this.

The zoo for building a 12.5 foot fence, when it should have been at least five feet higher.

The inspectors for not telling them about it.

The victims for taunting the animal, though from what I hear, the kid who died was trying to help the other victim. If he was part of the taunting, though, that doesn't excuse him.

And as for some of the comments on here regarding the use of tranquilizers, a tranquilizer dart would only take effect after several minutes, no use in this situation.

Answer 7

From what I read the police at the zoo later found a shoe in the tiger enclosure over the fence area, possible meaning these guy's were teasing the tiger.
Good point by another answer, Tatiana had never attacked anyone else..visitor at least.

Answer 8

The Zoological Association for allowing zoos at all. They should be defunct and only sanctuaries and preserves for animals unable to make it in the wild. Also I blame the taunting boys there after closing time when their moms were waiting Christmas dinner for them over one hour travel time away. Also a lack of coordination with the police dept which would have automatically had a tranquilizer gun available for the animal rather than killing one of only 400 of those rare tigers left in the world.

Answer 9

The facts aren't all in yet, but there has to be a reason why Tatiana went after these boys and none of the untold thousands who had previously visited her.

The short retaining wall didn't help though.

Answer 10

I'm sorry but if they were taunting the tiger, they got what they asked for. It is sad that Carlos lost his life, and with the other two not wanting to cooperate I wonder if Carlos had anything to do with it.