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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Tiger that attacked keeper at SF Zoo had no history of violence
2006-12-24
No history of drug use, drunk driving arrests or misdemeanors, either.
SAN FRANCISCO - A 350-pound Siberian tiger that mauled an experienced San Francisco Zoo keeper so badly she could lose her arm had no history of violence, prompting an investigation into what led to the vicious attack.

The tiger would likely remain on view Saturday, zoo officials said, even as the woman underwent emergency surgery to save her lacerated limb.

At least 50 visitors were at the zoo’s big cat exhibit, called the Lion House, when the tiger, Tatiana, reached through her cage’s iron bars and grabbed the keeper Friday afternoon, said Robert Jenkins, the zoo’s director of animal care. “We’re still trying to figure out what happened and why it happened,” Jenkins said.
Tiger reached through the cage and grabbed a two-legged lunch. Not so hard.
The woman was rushed into surgery at San Francisco General Hospital and remained hospitalized Friday night. Her family requested that details of her condition not be released at this time, zoo and hospital officials said. “My understanding is the injuries are not life-threatening, but perhaps limb-threatening,” Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said.

The trainer has been an animal keeper at the zoo since 1997. Her main job is taking care of the zooÂ’s four lions and three tigers, Jenkins said.

The attack happened during a regular 2 p.m. public feeding, during which keepers typically deliver a meal of fortified horse meat through a small slot. “No matter how familiar you get with these animals, they’re still wild animals,” Jenkins said. “You have to have a healthy respect for them and be aware of what can happen.”
Reeeeeeaaallllly?
The 3-year-old tiger arrived at the San Francisco Zoo from the Denver Zoo more than a year ago. There were no previous incidents of aggression against humans involving Tatiana, said Ana Bowie, a Denver Zoo spokeswoman.
Posted by:Steve White

#19  That does it Anonymous - off the couch and go for a roll around the block!

hes not round tho 2412, 5089 is ovoid.

»:-)

/solly 5089
Posted by: RD   2006-12-24 19:20  

#18  That does it Anonymous - off the couch and go for a roll around the block!
Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412   2006-12-24 17:23  

#17  Wild swine have flesh that is dark red in color. Human flesh is red, don't believe it, cut yourself open and have a look. ;-)

I dunno, my own flesh is very spongious, and looks very funny, not enough exercise and too much junk food; in fact, when I press a finger on it, the mark stays for days, and I can go deep too, up to third knuckle without pushing too much (otherwise, the skin ruptures, and some kind of yellow fat oozes out of the wound, smells like used frying oil, and there seems to be lots of fibers in it. I think that might be my blood).

All in all, I'm not really sure my inside is red, when I cut myself, all I see is this, and some mutliple layers of unhealthy tissues, of uncertain color, but not red, I'll tell you that.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-12-24 16:43  

#16  Thanks for the wine tips, now bite me.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-12-24 16:29  

#15  I don't want to nitpick, but IIRC what I've read and watched, human meat tastes like pork, and is actually a white meat.

Burnt humans do indeed smell like burnt pork roast, it's the high fat content of human flesh that causes it. I can't comment on what we taste like. Domesticated swine raised for the market are specially bred to be lean(er) and the flesh pale.

Wild swine have flesh that is dark red in color. Human flesh is red, don't believe it, cut yourself open and have a look. ;-)
Posted by: Greremp Uleremp6059   2006-12-24 14:10  

#14  Wine experts have changed the official doctrine so that the proper wine to have with food is the one you like.

However, I gather the Argentinians are now producing some superb wines, if any have gotten through yet, as the wine lovers grab them all before they can make it to the shelves.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-12-24 13:36  

#13  What really matters is which wine you serve with it.

I've heard a nice Chianti is just the thing - or is that only with the liver?
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-12-24 13:04  

#12  A nice SA Tesco Merlot might be the ticket. Goes well with ribs, steaks or roasts. It's a bit pricey at around R240 per case as I recall, but worth the outlay.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-12-24 11:15  

#11  What really matters is which wine you serve with it.
Posted by: .com   2006-12-24 11:09  

#10  Man...the other red meat

I don't want to nitpick, but IIRC what I've read and watched, human meat tastes like pork, and is actually a white meat. But, what the hell, tigers aren't discriminating, red, white, as long as it is fresh and tasty, it's ok.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-12-24 10:52  

#9  Man...the other red meat
Posted by: Shipman   2006-12-24 10:46  

#8  Man...the other red meat
Posted by: Spolunter Grins4865   2006-12-24 10:31  

#7  I knew an unemployed young man who admitted one time that he had always fantasized about working with big cats as a great career. So I asked him why didn't he go to the local zoo and see if he could get work there?

It took me two weeks to convince him to give it a go. But when he showed up and asked for an application, they were going to give him one when he mentioned that he wanted to work with big cats.

They practically dragged him inside and gave him an interview on the spot--and hired him before he had even finished filling out the form.

Within a few months, he was the senior big cat man at the zoo. But a little over six months after he was hired, he got a job offer from Las Vegas at several times his current pay. Any experience at all and you could get the big bucks.

I guess it needs a rare personality.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-12-24 09:28  

#6  It just occurred to Me: maybe this is a Tamil Tiger?
Posted by: Jackal   2006-12-24 08:57  

#5  Do you mean tigers can be sometimes aggressive, or even dangerous, and can kill other living beings? I never thought of that, but then again, my formative experience with tigers was watching Disney's Winnie the pooh.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-12-24 08:21  

#4  I'm starting to think the vicious behavior zoo tigers display may be genetic.
Posted by: Shipman   2006-12-24 08:18  

#3  No one with a lick of sense gets real close or inbetween tigers/lions and red meat.
Posted by: Lefty   2006-12-24 05:06  

#2  The hilarious part of feeding time at the big cats' house is watching the expectant crowd jam right up to the railing to get a close peek at these gorgeous beasts.

More seasoned zoo-goers know damn well to perch on the opposite railing across the walkway. You get a good view over the crowd's head and aren't at the head of the line for when the cat's arrive.

The first thing one or two of the female tigers do is whip their butts around and cut loose with a nice garden hose spray of extra-ripe tiger urine into the onlookers' faces.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-24 03:12  

#1  Even the most hardened professional criminal was a First Offender once.
Posted by: Jackal   2006-12-24 00:12  

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