Comments on: Tatiana Update

By: stillwaggon

stillwaggon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:31:17 +0000

I worked in a large zoo 1979-1982. The things humans do in a zoo are beyond belief — or were before 1979! I was quite fond of a certain tiger and a certain clouded leopard and they seemed to enjoy seeing me (they were very bored), but I was never so foolish as to think that we’d get along without all that iron and concrete. Anybody who has lived with a so-called domestic cat should appreciate that while a 14 pounder may regard you as her staff, to be mildly chastised occasionally, a 400 pounder in a cage has absolutely no reason to think that you’re too useful to disassemble.

By: Virgil Samms

Virgil Samms — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:24:14 +0000

As expected, they were taunting the tiger. However, it should still not be possible for a dangerous predator to escape from a zoo enclosure.

By: uncle noel

uncle noel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:25:23 +0000

A few years ago in the Houston zoo a tiger punched out a small “shatterproof” window in a steel door and pulled a keeper through, killing him. It was a horrible, grisly, action, but also an incredible feat of intelligence and coordination. It must have planned and calculated the precise moment and amount of force very accurately. I hope to never meet an unrestrained tiger. They are awesome predators. And, yes, the teens are among the most deserving recipients of the Darwin Award for not being more respectful. (Tatiana’s thought bubble: “That’s it. These ugly apes are going down!”) The evolution train has left a few homo sapiens “sapiens” behind.

By: pough

pough — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:08:55 +0000

Tatiana the Taunted Tiger? Sounds like a bad kids book.

By: Chad Estep

Chad Estep — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:06:37 +0000

Just another example of people thinking “Hey it’s a big, dumb animal and I’m a smart human who put you in a cage that you cannot escape from so I can do anything I want.” Maybe if more instances like this happened (which would be tragic by the way) the general public would understand just how intelligent animals (especially mammals) truly are. Hell, look at all the weapons can be made by prison inmates who barely have anything to work with. I have a degree and I couldn’t think of half of those things. Putting an animal in a cage does not make it any less intelligent or crafty, it just pisses them off.

By: The Ridger

The Ridger — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:04:44 +0000

And five of their six ends are pointy…People have been suckered into thinking they’re safe. I don’t know if these kids just thought the tiger couldn’t get out, or didn’t realize what would happen if she did. 17-year-olds aren’t big in the “I’m mortal” thought department.But adults can be as stupid. I remember seeing parents send their kid to pet the sleeping sea lion in Carmel, years ago. (I was too far away to stop him.) Luckily, the kid only ended up with an arm slashed open.

By: J-Dog

J-Dog — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:28:44 +0000

Jesus Christ on a crutch, all you have to do is LOOK at the damn things and realize you shouldn’t taunt them!That’s a lot of pounds of mean machine, with teeth and claws.I say give the guy his Darwin Award and move on.