Christmas Day tiger attack at SF Zoo
A tiger escaped from its enclosure in the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day, mauled one man to death and left two others seriously injured, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Officials said that the same tiger, a Siberian named Tatiana, had mauled a zoo keeper in front of horrified visitors about a year ago.
The 23-year-old man killed by the tiger was attacked at the throat, San Francisco’s KCBS radio reported. The two other victims, 18- and 19-year-old brothers, were in critical but stable condition after being attacked at a zoo café, according to the radio station. Police shot and killed the tiger.
The zoo will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 26, while police canvas the area during daylight hours for additional victims, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Photo: San Francisco Zoo]
37 Comments on “Christmas Day tiger attack at SF Zoo”
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December 26th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Additional details:
The medical examiner identified the deceased as Carlos Sousa, 17, of San Jose. Hospital officials said the surviving victims were 19 and 23 years old.
Zoo officials said Tatiana climbed or leaped out of her enclosure rather than escaping through the tiger grotto’s only door.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that police helicopters equipped with thermal imaging devices combed the zoo from the air on Christmas night for additional victims.
The Chronicle also reported that authorities believe the tiger initially attacked all three victims outside the enclosure, killing Sousa before following blood trails to Terrace Cafe, where it cornered the other victims.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that the tiger attack was the first time an escaped animal killed a visitor at a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer + Theme Park Blogger
December 26th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Are the Tigers & Lions Monitored 24/7?
If not — about Time to install some soon.
Then they might found out how he got out in the first place.
December 26th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I just think the whole thing is tragic for all concerned. Sad for the tiger, the boys, the family of the boys, the Zoo employees and the animal vets who work with the tigers. It just an awful tragedy. I sincerely hope they’re able to figure out how the tiger escaped. I deeply hope it wasn’t due to the aid of an human being. That would just be too too twisted.
December 27th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Cats can be confined in quite small quarters with very little exercise and retain their muscle tone and strength over a fairly. long time period. I had several domestic cats that I had to put into emergency/rescue boarding with small cages for a lot longer than anticipated and they retained all their jumping and running abilities with no problems.(It was unfortunately longer than a year but I still have my cats with me)
December 28th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Tragedy is stating this lightly. This event impacts us in so many ways. The families who cry for a dead son. The admired, appreciated, and loved tiger. The San Francisco community who was working to “re-launch” the zoo. We have put this truck in reverse.
I am disappointed that there doesn’t seem to be any cameras in place, especially considering the age of that zoo.
Am I the only one appalled to hear that an adult taunted the tiger?? OK, sorry to the loss. But even more sad…a statement on the level of *disrespect* for a naturally predatory animal that lives off animals 2, 3 or 4 times it’s size for food. We must sit up and take notice. It’s not only about the birds and the bees in education, we humans are trying to harness the power of the wild in every caged animal or zoo or wild animal park… and I guess have a few things to learn, don’t we?
December 28th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Remember the movie, “Escape From Alcatraz?” The salt air after many years corroded the concrete walls of Alcatraz so the Clint Eastwood character was able to dig a hole through and escape. The same process is happening at the SF Zoo which is very close to the ocean. The tiger Tatiana did not have to jump the 33 foot moat. There is a staircase so the tiger can walk down to the bottom of the moat, just leaving the 12.5 foot concrete wall to climb or jump. Since a tiger is about 8 feet long stretched out, this leaves only 4.5 feet to climb. Since the concrete wall has corroded in the 60-70 years since it was built, the claws of the tiger would be able to grip the wall like a trunk of a tree, thus allowing it to climb up and out. This might not have been possible years ago when the concrete was more firm.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:53 am
When I visited the zoo there were three ways that tigers could get out that occurred to me at the time:
1. Climb to the top of the overgrown vegetation at the back of the tiger groto and then leap from the top of the vegetation to the side wall. From the top of the vegetation to the top of the side wall is only a few feet - certainly not a challenge for a tiger.
2. Walk to the bottom of the moat, and then simply climb up the highly eroded wall that has lots of places to put claws. I could probably climb it myself without even using my legs it’s so easy. A tiger should have absolutely no trouble.
3. Get a running start from the back of the groto and then simply jump across the 35 foot moat. With a running start I might be able to leap 35 feet myself - an olympic athlete would certainly be able to do it, and more importantly a tiger should have no trouble at all.
Could it be that any of the other tigers could do any of 1, 2, or 3 above, but just hasn’t tried over lack of motivation?
December 29th, 2007 at 9:47 am
My deepest sympathies to all concerned, including the tiger.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Um, enclosure built in 1940; no escape for 67 years. Boys just innocently walking by; NOW the tiger decides to escape? I don’t think so.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Greg - good luck with your long jumping career. Current world record is 29.36 feet.
If, as has been reported elsewhere, the tiger was being taunted and one of the “victims” was dangling his legs into the enclosure then the only creature deserving sympathy is the tiger. The human side of the equation qualifies for a Darwin Award.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am
JK - OK, the human record for long jump with a running start is 29.36 feet, puting the 35 ft wide moat just beyond human limits. Tigers are much more capable jumpers than humans, and a tiger ought to be able to accelerate to a much greater speed before the start of the moat. I find it very hard to believe that a 35 foot moat could countain a tiger. Also, of the 3 possible means of escape I gave, the moat jump seems the most difficult.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Timeline drawn from police and fire dispatch logs in response to the Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo:
5:07 p.m. - First 911 call.
5:11 p.m. - Zoo locks perimeter gates.
5:17 p.m. - “Zoo security not letting PD in.”
5:18 p.m. - Police enter zoo.
5:20 p.m. - 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. located at tiger grotto with large puncture neck wound.
5:21 p.m. - 19-year-old Amritpal “Paul” Dhaliwal calls 911 from Terrace Café to report his 23-year-old brother Kulbir Dhaliwal has been bitten. Gets instructions on how to stop bleeding.
5:27 p.m. - Police spot tiger attacking Kulbir Dhaliwal at cafe.
5:28 p.m. - Police shoot tiger.
5:29 p.m. - Police incorrectly report second tiger on the loose.
5:31 p.m. - “Per zookeeper, may be four outstanding tigers.”
5:50 p.m. - All tigers accounted for.
6:57 p.m. - All barricaded employees and visitors accounted for.
Culled from news reports in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer + Theme Park Blogger
December 29th, 2007 at 11:39 am
This is absurd. Guy gets killed and the first thing the zoo does is try to blame the guy. The fence is a joke, and it’s like 5 feet tall. I bet people stood on it just to see a little farther. It’s so far back from the “moat” too that it really doesn’t matter if someone stuck their leg out. This is just a case of irresponsibility at the facility and ignoring imminent dangers. As for the cops, I would have shot the beast dead too in a heartbeat.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I can’t believe no one believes that the tiger was provoke or she wouldn’t of jump out of the moat. Get real people, why would she attack someone unless she was harrased. If you follow it, she was after the 23 year old, who maybe dropped his shoe trying to climb over the fence. What got her mad enough to climb out and go after someone. It just doesn’t make sense to me. There’s more to this story than being told. I think in the end we will hear the truth.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Excellent “Escape From Alcatraz” scenario presented by Jon W Churnin, M.D. Unreported at this time is whether a tiger dummy was found in the Tiger Grotto similar to the one Clint Eastwood’s character left in his bed. Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but seriously, Dr. Churnin’s theory seems the most likely, although I did think about Greg Slaughter’s first theory prior to reading it, that is, climbing to the top of the overgrown vegetation at the back of the grotto and leaping out of the enclosure. Finally, as JK says, I also wanted to say good luck to Greg Slaughter is his jumping career.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
First of all my heart goes out to the greiving family who lost a son. Also, being an animal lover, my heart goes out to the tiger’s caretakers. The tiger was only doing what a tiger does and it had to die. It doesn’t seem fair. My biggest question is “What motivated the tiger?” Something did, and it must have been quite extraordinary since it hadn’t happened at the San Fancisco zoo in 67 years as Peg stated.
I have been extremely interested in this story since I first heard about it. Something doesn’t measure up and I am waiting for the truth to be told.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Why is anyone surprised by the fact that the tiger attacked? This isn’t the first time!! Did you all forget about the trainer that she mauled in front of horrified onlookers? She got a taste of human blood and liked it. Sure those “boys” were probably taunting her, (don’t all boys?) but why weren’t there any precautions / surveillance in place since the zoo knew she was capable of attacking humans? Sounds to me like the zoo took too much for granted and put people’s lives at stake just to keep from spending the extra money to make sure that all were safe. The fact that they overstated how tall the wall is says it all. Personally I think they should have put the tiger “down” after the first attack.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
This is a case of pure negligence on the part of the zoo. Even if every patron that day made the insensitive and foolish decision to taunt the tiger, the bottom line is that a reasonable expectation is that no animals have the ability to escape their enclosure! In fact, this is a ZOO and NOT a wild game preserve so the risk of being killed should be similar to that of hitting the lottery! Again, taunting or no taunting, the zoo had a responsibility to provide a safe environment for patrons. The wall was too low and the animal was able to escape…a result of negligence.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Until Zoo personnel figure out WHY the animal escaped, the “how” is secondary. If zoo conditions were really right for the animal, any wild animal that escapes would certainly not hunt for people. They don’t even do this in the wild, if not starving.
There was certainly something amiss in the care of that animal. If the zoo were to focus an investigation and make full report on their actions, with the intent to remedy and improve their caretaking, real good could come from this awful tragedy. This is their responsibility to the animals and the public, to provide a safe and happy environment. That tiger was neither safe nor happy, and so neither were we. A tragedy we don’t want repeated.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
what taunt could those boys have said to piss off a tiger that much? what gang sign or finger or hand motion pissed off the tiger that much? what brand of sneaker on the leg over the wall would have pissed off the tiger that much? that tiger was acting just as wild as she could be. me thinks you need a bigger cage with higher walls. dont blame the victim.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Regarding the developing debate over taunting vs. zoo negligence, there is no doubt that the zoo is 100% at fault and liable to the victims and their families. However it is not unreasonable to at least state that taunting, if it occurred, could easily have contibuted to the tragedy. No, tigers are not offended as easily as humans by a “gang sign” or “hand motion”, but any domestic cat owner can attest to the chasing / hunting instincts of cats, big or small, set off by even the slightest sudden movement of the prey. I’m not in any way trying to assign any blame to the victims, even if it turns out that they did taunt the tiger. It is entirely 100% the zoo’s duty to provide 100% safety to it’s patrons. But yes, taunting, if present, would have certainly contributed and possiby triggered this tragedy.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:43 am
In 1959, teenage science student David Rentz visited the San Francisco Zoo with then zoo director Carey Baldwin to check on the security of the tiger enclosure, according to a story recounted in the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Mr. Baldwin had been told by one of the zookeepers that the tiger might be able to escape by jumping across the moat and onto the flowerbed between the public guard rail and the moat,” Rentz recalled in a posting on his personal Web log after the Christmas Day tiger attack.
“We got a large piece of meat and tied it to a long bamboo pole and approached the tiger enclosure,” Rentz wrote in his blog. “We were at the other end of the bamboo pole - about 15 feet away from the meat. Baldwin held the pole at the edge of our side of the moat. Once the tiger saw it, he literally flew across the moat from his position on the other side, grabbed the meat, and sprung back to the grotto all in one graceful movement.”
Contacted by telephone Saturday at his Queensland, Australia home, Rentz told the Chronicle: “It happened so quickly that it was hard to believe what we had seen. It scared the hell out of me. It scared the hell out of both of us.”
After the incident, zoo director Baldwin closed the tiger grotto “supposedly forever,” Rentz wrote in his blog. “Notes were left to the zookeepers to never let this tiger outside again.”
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer + Theme Park Blogger
December 31st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
3 tragedies here:
1) the dead tiger. What did she do that was so wrong? Eva, the one who suggested the tiger should’ve been put down after the first attack on a trainer, well, Eva honey you need to get a clue. What makes you such an arrogant human? Let’s see someone take you from your home, lock you up, put you on display, then put you down after you do something they didn’t like.
2) the families will sue the zoo and probably win, and even though that doesn’t bring their kid back, they’ll bankrupt the zoo and there will be no winners. But they’ll still file suit-you just wait and see
3) zoos will continue to be in business, only now, if you thought it was tough to spot the animals before? try it once they revise all the enclosures after this. When will humans wake up and realize the best way to study animals is by watching something filmed while the animals are in their own environment, or pick up a book. ANYTHING but put them in a stupid freaking zoo. Overpriced food and cola for the humans, substandard conditions for the animals, all in the guise of learning about and ‘protecting’ animals. They sure protected the tiger didn’t they.
December 31st, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Any kid who taunts caged tigers for fun probably doesn’t have a great future at the top of the food chain. I’m not saying they deserved death or dismemberment, but this was foreseeable, and I hope the zoo’s lawyers fight tooth and nail against the inevitable lawsuits, just to make it clear to local hooligans that this is not going to be a way to get paid and increase admission prices for law-abiding Bay Area families who come to see the tigers, not the hoodlums
January 1st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
An Average tiger can leap 25 feet while crouching to pounce on a prey. A Siberian Tiger is the biggest cat alive. With a running start it could go an extra 15 feet with out trying to be silent
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 am
The families would be better off not having Gallegos represent them in the media (and for any case). Already with the “the zoo didn’t respond quick enough” media articles, I can’t help but roll my eyes and be disgusted by attorneys. As if the story alone wasn’t bad enough on its own.
January 4th, 2008 at 6:21 am
We all must take the consequences of our actions. Taunting an animal resulted in the laws of nature being enforced to the max. The Zoo will suffer, the families will suffer and even the police officer that was a hero and saved the other humans will suffer. The only ones to gain in this situation will be the trial lawyers. Monetary rewards will not replace the son lost but they will reward and enrich the lawyers on all sides. The zoo employees that work there everyday had the knowledge to improve the Zoo but in our society their opinions are not valued.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Extending my sincerest condolence to the family of Carlos Sousa, I would like to say that “Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” I am saddened at this unfortunate incident and am in prayer for the recovery of the brothers who were also injured in the attack by the magnificent Tatiana. I am equally concerned with the reputations of the San Francisco Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. I remain optimistic that in time all parties affected by this tragedy will heal and grow exponentially.
It further saddens me to witness this thoughtful blog being turned into a forum of debate. I would hope that provocation of our precious animals shall be a factor considered in the future design of our facilities rather than an issue to deride the human race who will forever be creatures who make unwise choices that sometimes backfire on us.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It’s better than I thought. At least some people seem intelligent enough to recognize that the Tiger was taunted and provoked into attacking. It’s true that, while a tiger might not be offended by ‘Gang signs’ or a shoe, they certainly can be provoked by yelling, sensing aggresive behaviour, and movement. I have my own cats, and anyone who owns a domestic cat knows that with movement, you can trigger your little kitty into a attack. Granted, that’s nowhere near as dangerous as a Tiger. But, in a way, the tiger was doing the same thing our cats do. It was provoked and saw movement, and decided to make use of it. There was no malice in the tiger’s attack. She was doing what came naturally.
Some of you think that the tiger should have been put down. Well fine, then we could also have to put down every single domestic cat who scratched someone and every dog who nipped someone. Think about it: The tiger was larger, which means when it decides to bite someone or decides that a leg is a prey item (like domestics think that a foot is a prey item), it does more damage. But it’s no different than a cat attacking your foot. My horse bit me once when he was throwing a temper tantrum, and I had to be sent to the emergency room. Should I put him down, just because his temper tantrum was more dangerous than when a cat or dog does the same thing? I think not.
Nobody wins. It seems like a lawsuit is the only thing people can ever think of to do. Nevermind supporting the efforts of the zoo to fix it so this never happens again. While I am apologetic to the family, the need to realize that these supposed ‘victims’ taunted the tiger and asked for what they got. They need to face the consequences of the boys’ actions.
I’ll be looking forward to the next Darwin Award book, to see these ignorant men in it’s pages.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
For those that are questioning the taunting, how bout they threw a rock or pinecone and nailed the tiger in the face. That would piss her off wouldn’t it?
January 4th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Nobody is holding the zoo responsible for the tiger’s life ?
1 - Why did they have to wait for the SFPD to do something, where was zoo security with tranq guns ? Why was only the SFPD the only resort ?
2 - Manuel Mollinedo and his henchmen really dont care about the animals, ask any of the zoo employees who have left see link : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/30/MNNQU63KP.DTL
3-Even if the boys taunted the animals, NOBODY in the zoo was around to STOP THEM FROM DOING THIS and protect the ANIMALS or THE HUMANS. Try this in any other reputable zoo in the world see how fast you get escorted out and banned/arrested/ticketed.
4 - The same tiger attacked its keeper through the bars and stripped the flesh off Lori Komejan’s arm in front of the public. So this was not a sedate animal, but was acting like a tiger.
This looks like a smear campaign by the Mollinedo regime, hopefully people wake up and see it for what it is and at least use this as an opportunity to get rid of them and make the SF zoo’s focus on animals and conservancy once again. That way bot ANIMALS and HUMANS will be safe.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
As the truth is starting to come out in bits and pieces, it’s now clear the kids lied and obviously were taunting the tiger. If you read any back story on these kids you know they are not really going to be contributors to a good society…drugs, acohil, arrests, police chases and I would highly suspect a lot more. It’s nature selecting and it’s too bad the tiger had to die. I have no sympathy for the kids, they played with fire and got burned. If you’re 19 and don’t know better than to taunt a tiger, you’re an idiot.
January 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
People entering a zoo (ballpark, Disneyland, etc.) should assume the risk especially when they don’t act responsibly. The back of the ticket probably states as much. Reasons why its not the zoos fault:
(1)being on the rail,
(2)harrassing & taunting (w/food?),
(3)alcohol & drugs in their
system, etc.
(4)no respect for a wild animals natural response.
I would think that absolves the zoo from any financial responsibility to the family/families.
The biggest loss is the Tiger who was just hanging out minding her own business. Million have seen her over the years w/o being harmed (xcept an untrained & inexperienced feeder who suffered flesh wounds). Now we’ll never see this beautiful Tiger again because of three fools - parents must be proud.
Surely there has to be
witnesses who will speak as to the actions of these boys. Hope the zoo files a Civil suit against the boys.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:25 am
It truly is a sad state of affairs when a tiger is punished for doing what tigers do. First of all, they DO NOT attack without provocation, with the exception of feeding time, which she had regularly in the zoo. No doubt in my mind, nor in the minds of anyone familiar with animals, she was provoked in some way. Dangling a leg over a 3-foot wall, yelling, making large movements and/or acting aggressively toward her are all provocations. I am sorry for the family who lost a son. I watched mine lose one a few years ago and there is nothing in this wide world worse, but their son was drunk, stoned, and acting carelessly with an animal that doesn’t understand kidding around. She was clearly after the first attack hunting the other two boys. She knew who she was after and she knew why. It is only the human standing on the outside looking in who did not. She touched no one but the three boys taunting her. That is self-control in a target-rich environment. An out of control animal could’ve and would’ve attacked the first prey it saw. She was methodical. She saw her prey; she tracked them; and she attacked them. Then she was killed for simply being a tiger. Kudos to those of you who understand, even through house pets, the method to the madness of when animals attack. It is always a protection reflex, not a sadistical hunt.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
It was a gang initiation a dare. They threw rocks and pine cones at the tiger and enraged it. All animals when enraged will do impossible things. No one has been killed in a zoo in 40 years.
I feel sorry for the Tiger. There are only about 400 Siberian tigers left in the world and millions of punks that those three.
Sure give them the money then put them in jail. The zoo does has its problems. But even a minimum expectable wall height would not have stopped that tiger they pissed her off.
They are idiots and should not be on the loose. And the brother was just arrested for robbery. They are just punks like Rodney king. I am glad the City did not pay them off like LA did that criminal and punk Rodney.
Children could have gotten killed and those punks would not care. I hope the city sues them and their family and wins big.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:28 am
They were taunting a tiger…. enough said.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:28 am
They were taunting a tiger…. enough said. Somebody get these kids a Darwin Award.