Comments on: TIGER STORY CONTINUES TO CHANGE

By: Lucille

Lucille — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:59:52 +0000

I want justice for the death of the Tiger…she paid with her life because those young men
thought it would be fun to taunt her. They need to be held responsible for these tragic events.
They need to be punished and put in prison for a while or do lots of community service.
There should be cameras watching people – it’s bad enough that these animals have to
live their lives in prison let alone be taunted by some irresponsible humans…shame on them,
they should pay for the tiger and pay the parents of the lost young man. Don’t let them get
away with this. Tatiana was just being a tiger….shame on them!!!

By: Outraged

Outraged — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:36:17 +0000

How do you exactly “taunt” a tiger from over 15 to 20 away or more? Wave at it? Yell at it? Give it the finger? Tigers have one instinct: to hunt and kill, the fence was too low and it took a tragedy to figure it out. Drugs, alcohol, “Taunting” have nothing to do with it, it got out, period. I have been to many zoos, and the tigers and lions have 18 to 29 foot walls AND extra fencing borders, to keep the tigers from getting it OUT!

By: John44 -Tulsa,Oklahoma

John44 -Tulsa,Oklahoma — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:46:13 +0000

Curtdalton
what constitutes reasonable assurance the the Tigers cannot escape, I say it is a 18 foot wall to me a 12.5 what is anything but reasonable it is insane, the fact that No Tiger got out before simply means that the Zoo was lucky that none of them wanted out before, they are required to keep the Tigers captive regardless of why they might want out because what one person may consider reasonable another might consider to be rediculous.
A Tiger standing on his hind legs already can reach 11 feet, the fact is most Zoo’s are smart enough to have more than a 12.5 foot wall.

By: Adam Housley

Adam Housley — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:21:36 +0000

Lisa-

Your thoughts are shared by many. I have posted a NEW UPDATE on my main page. Just click Housley in the House at the top of this page and it will take you there!

Adam

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:49:51 +0000

I agree w/ Curt regarding personal accountability. There is shared blame in this tragic story.
Yes, the walls of the tiger enclosure were not the regulated height and thus, the zoo does have some responsibility in the tiger being able to escape the enclosure.
But, if these boys thought that they had a right to shamelessly harm Tatiana by shooting things at her w/ a slingshot, they also share the blame as well.
The only honest entity in this whole matter was Tatiana, who was a tiger being a tiger.
If I were being shot at by some punks, I’d have a score to settle too.
It’s a shame that Tatiana had to be killed for being a tiger and doing what tigers do-defend themselves and their territory.

By: CurtDalton

CurtDalton — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:17:17 +0000

First, let me say I have patiently read every single comment on this blog and I am impressed with the level of intelligent dialog.

I can’t help but wonder where in the world does personal accountability come into play here? Sure, this is indeed a tragic situation. Very tragic. However, from what I have read, the ordeal these three “boys” have gone through is entirely self-inflicted.

Many have commented upon the height of the fence etc. etc. to attempt to shift negligence to the zoo. However, if these three “boys” had scaled a fence and entered a restricted area near let’s say, a PG&E power substation, (and one got fried by a 12,000 volt power line) we wouldn’t be castigating PG&E for the height of the fence. We would rightly place the blame where it belongs.

So, is a pissed-off tiger any less dangerous than a high voltage transformer?

No it isn’t.

Had these three been inside a power substation, the collective arguments would no doubt be much different and there would be serious discussions vis-�-vis the sanity of the three individuals. After all, everyone knows high voltage is dangerous!

So, who in their right mind (young or old) thinks an adult tiger is not dangerous?

The zoo is required to make every reasonable attempt to insure the animals and public is protected but no amount of engineering by anyone will make the zoo “idiot proof” and therein lies the problem.

By: myspace.com/rip_tatiana

myspace.com/rip_tatiana — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:20:16 +0000

Join us! Thanks.

myspace.com/rip_tatiana

By: Bernadette Ferriter

Bernadette Ferriter — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:33:57 +0000

Apparently more evidence is coming forward that this poor tiger was being unmercifully taunted by these three teenagers who have, according to the police, previous records of violence …being a high school teacher, I have seen so many violent, vicious teenagers that I feel nothing is beyond them…parents simply do not discipline their children, no matter what age and then wonder when something like this happens.

It is a disgrace that this wonderful tiger had to be killed and judging from the emails in San Francisco’s newspaper, the tiger will be mourned long after these thugs are forgotten.

By: Susan- Phx- AZ

Susan- Phx- AZ — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:01:34 +0000

Roman–

You are a nice person– I feel it! I would also go back to the zoo–

By: linda

linda — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:28:52 +0000

I have been really following this story because my husband is a retired zoo keeper. It’s difficult to point blame in this story.

This tiger had a history of being aggressive.
The walls were substandard even if the were recently inspected and were not flagged.
We don’t know if the boys taunted the tiger.

Tigers hated my husband. He tells on one that was at the back wall, he walked in and was, at he thought, far enough away from the cage when the tiger rushed the bars, slashed his arm and returned to the back wall before he could react.

Unless there are any eye-witnesses to this event, we only have speculation and what the surviving boys have to say…which may or may not be factual.

~Linda

By: Roman Stepanov

Roman Stepanov — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 06:08:12 +0000

Susan,
I sure did. It was a great feeling, and like I said a sad at the same time.
I want to go back to the zoo as soon as it opens to show my support. Despite the tragic events, I like the park, and the animals enough to continue visiting such locations.

By: Susan- Phx- AZ

Susan- Phx- AZ — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:16:17 +0000

Roman–

did you get to see these pictures here by you?

Susan

By: Terri ~ Las Vegas

Terri ~ Las Vegas — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:13:45 +0000

Oh my heck… blogging is SOOOO ADDICTING! I totally love it.

I’ve been blogging almost a year …. but, just recently started going to Greta’s and Adam’s blog.

I’m stay home mommy of a medically fragile 2 year old … so I don’t get out in the real world much at all … especially during the winter months (flu and RSV season)

so….
this is my way of visiting with adults.

By: John44

John44 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:27:08 +0000

Tammy and Dawn this is my second time blogging in my life so I got you by one.

Have a good night everyone and thanks for the spirited debate it was truly addicting.

Adam thanks for doing a good job of uncovering the facts from the fiction.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:23:01 +0000

Dawn
My first time blogging too and you are right about addicting I got abosolutley nothing done in my house today. You are right about a reflection of the parent and the parents being responsible if the child is under age and yes these kids have probably done ridiculous crap like this before and there is no excuse for this type of behavior, but with that being said and as a mother too I think I will just follow what my grandmother told me a long time ago (and at the time I thought she was a religious nut) Instead of more hate and anger just pray for them and all others in their same situation. Thankfully none of us has to judge them….that is left up to someone a lot more qualified…..goodnight to you

By: John44

John44 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:18:16 +0000

I agree Tammy the world does stop when your child is hurt and nothing else matters at the time.
I personally would not critisize the dead boy’s parents, as you said they are most likely coping as best they can and whatever works for them is fine with me.
The parents of the survivers are probably just happy their kids are alive.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:13:07 +0000

For the record, I am a parent. I am raising a respectful and responsible child.
If my child were to cause such damage, then I would take responsibility for the damages because my child’s actions are a reflection of me.
Yes, we all make mistakes and learn that actions have consequences also about trial and error.
We can’t continue to blame and point fingers at everyone else. It is time that we start taking responsibility for our actions and if you have an underaged child then the parent shares in that responsibility.
Those kids were not there to sightsee. There have probably been MANY times where they have been disrespectful of rules and property. It is unfortunate that he died, but it was a choice that he made when he provoked the animal out of the den.

Well, thank you for your responses and insights. I am off to bed. This is my first time blogging and boy it can be addictive. Wishing you a wonder-filled holiday season.
“Peace out”

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:53:09 +0000

you are dead on John44…..I have two teenagers at the moment my daughter is 13 and currently bugging me about going to the movies and my son is 16 and the poster child for a teen boy. If his buddies are around theres no telling what kind of mischief they will get into. Do I think they would do something like this? I would like to believe I raised him better especially as far as animals go, but you can never say never. I especially agree with the idea of losing one of my children for any reason….the tiger would be the least of their problems…..one pissed off, over the edge, completely insane, obsessive mama would be your worst nightmare and unless you have or have had kids it is impossible for you to imagine. My son was riding saddle broncs in October when I finally convinced my husband to come and watch him ( my husband did not like the idea of him doing this since it is so dangerous) since this is something he’s good at and as parents you need to support them, well we walked up to him laying there out cold, the ambulance on the way, he woke to convulsions, very confused, now the helicopter is on the way and off to the trauma center we go. We really lucked out that day, Jr was released with a major concussion and some bruising but would make a full recovery. The moral to my story is this: The feelings that went through me that day are unthinkable and I do not wish them on my worst enemy, not knowing the fate of your child and watching them fly off and you can’t go is the most helpless feeling in the world to any parent. You need to know that Some kids live for that adrenaline rush like my son. Some do this is constructive ways and others usually with little to no support in destructive ways. But you need to remember that it doesn’t matter what your child has done as a mom or dad the world stops when it comes to them so if the parents want to call their son a HERO and that is what they need to cope tonight…..please as a mom let them! Either way mistakes can be and are made everyday by grown adults as well as teenagers. Hey for that fact I guess I can be blamed for letting my son ride saddle broncs at 16 years old. Boys are boys and that doesn’t make what they might have done right but it darn sure does not mean they or anyone else should have to pay with their life

By: John44

John44 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:34:46 +0000

The fact is the bond between a GOOD parent and child is instinctual and is more powerfull than you could imagine.
Unless of course you are a GOOD parent, in which case you know what I am talking about.

By: John44

John44 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:20:58 +0000

Dawn you don’t have kids do you, I am 45 and have a 7 year old son, if he were to be killed for ANY reason the offending entity would be dealing with me and it would be very ugly I can assure you.
They would be better off facing a Tiger than me.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:19:22 +0000

Dawn
Thank you for the comment….You are probably right about the boys’ actions but until that can be confirmed somehow someway I just can’t and won’t pass judgement, none of us truly know what happened or even if they were tauting the tiger, it does however I have to say look that way especially since now they are being hostile towards police and investigators. That to me is wrong and should be a crime in itself, if they are charged with anything I would think it should be that. As far as anything else I agree with John44 losing your life, being disfigured, and the trauma that they are sure to go through is far enough punishment for being an idiot. (if that is what happened) As far as the “hero” thing goes maybe thats the only way the family can deal with the loss of their son at this time; I don’t know I am not in their shoes, but regardless of anyone’s actions provoking the tiger…… What do you call a human being who would stand there and try to get one of the most deadliest animals off their friend? Maybe “hero” is the wrong word if their previous actions caused the tiger to attack, but since we are all human and make mistakes….some worse than others……and we were all not the smartest of teenagers at one point in our life……and some people didn’t have the best role models as parents…..I ask you what would you call the boy who did not run for his life regardless of the circumstances but rather stood by his friend and try to get this deadly animal off of him? I agree with you 100% that it is a true tragedy for the tiger, she really did deserve better. That is where I get upset with the zoo officials, they know the public and how they behave she should have had a better chance

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:05:50 +0000

John, with reading Adam’s latest article and learning that the boys are not cooperating with police and have had past disrespects for the law..NO, I don’t think they have experienced any punishment. Being hurt is the result of them putting themselves in harms’ way. I think the parents of Sousa should be held responsible b/c their son was underage and not an adult. The boys caused this whole incident and if they jumped the fence and taunted the tiger to the point of aggression there should be a way to punish so they know what they did was wrong. They should NOT be allowed to profit from any of this..via future book deals or lawsuits or made out to be heros or praised in any way. They are NOT the victim, the tiger is!!
So I would like to see the California law enforcement find a way to charge these boys and their families for the damages/expenses caused to the zoo and made an example of how NOT to act.

By: John44

John44 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:20:37 +0000

Dawn I agree the boys were in the wrong but do you not think that dying and being severely mauled and possibly disfigured is punishment enough for the boys ?
I think they have learned their lesson wouldn’t you think.
I would not like to see any charges brought against them.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:05:21 +0000

Thank you for the responses. You made some very good points Tammy and John and others too
Maybe it takes something like this to make an awareness that these animals have the potential to be dangerous. You never think when you are at the zoo that an animal will actually get out.
Maybe these zoos need to get with the times b/c people of yesterday didn’t behave like malicious and wild idiots!! The point I was really wanting to drive to is that the boys were in the wrong and they need to be punished for their bad choices, NOT made out to be a hero. That is what really got me today.

So Yes the zoos need to make their zoos safe, but people need to get back to the basics and be more RESPECTABLE and take responsibility for their actions.

By: mark

mark — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:50:28 +0000

…we need a theme? how ’bout on STUPID DAY they lower the walls in all the habitats, then, record, can, and show it on reality tv….the ratings will fly higher than that cat!