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What a Tiger Sees

 

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Your organization has tracked 530 attacks by big cats since 1990. That seems like a pretty high number. Why so many?
These attacks seem to increase each year. It's shocking to the average person. But there are no federal laws that regulate tigers or big cats. The most obvious problem is that they eat things the size of people. These are killing machines; they are predators, and almost everything about them is designed to hunt and kill. It's incredibly difficult to house and safely cage a 600-pound tiger.

Your organization often rescues tigers from private ownership. What drives people to own these animals, which pose a pretty big safety risk?
It's an ego thing. It's a desire for someone to have something that makes them unique. They have a tendency to collect many animals. It's hard for people to stop—especially if you've raised some of the animals from a cub. It makes them very popular; everyone wants to see the tiger cub and play with it. But when the animal reaches sexual maturity, then one day you can't handle them anymore, and that's when the problems start.

You often work with mature tigers. Do you ever get scared?
Absolutely. We have over a dozen, and it's a risk to work with them. Just being complacent around them could get you killed. Every day you have to be on your toes, no matter how docile they seem.

© 2007

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Andy A @ 04/28/2008 11:04:16 PM

    I am not. I will tell you why. Now there is one dead person and one less beautiful tiger in our world. It is a dam tradgedy.

  • Posted By: Miss J @ 01/30/2008 1:06:38 PM

    Here's a wacky idea whose time has come....leave these beautiful creatures alone in their natural habitat (as opposed to a zoo) where they belong, and they won't be making lunch out of some drunken idiot who thinks it might be a good idea to try and get its attention. Tigers, elephants, lions...belong in Africa and/or India. Not San Francisco.

  • Posted By: Bruce Wayne @ 01/18/2008 11:57:02 AM

    The Zoo should post a sign "Warning. Do not taunt the animals! They may break out of their cage and eat you!"

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