Tatiana the Tiger - Articles - Zimbio

San Francisco Zoo Hires PR Flack to Try and Save its Skin After Tiger Mauling

Mon, 8 Jan 2008 18:16:10 GMT

posted by sheldonrampton

Look, but don't taunt.The situation was about as bad as it could get for a zoo. On Christmas Day, Tatiana the tiger escaped from her enclosure in the San Francisco Zoo, mauled a 17 year old boy to death and severely injured two of his companions. Media coverage of the incident focused on deficiencies in construction of the cat's enclosure and the zoo's response to the accident, while the public recoiled in horror. It looked like the zoo's reputation had hit rock bottom. But when the going gets tough, the tough hire PR, and so the zoo hired Sam Singer, a $350 an hour Bay-area PR consultant who specializes in crisis control, to help spin the tiger mauling in a way that would minimize the damage to the zoo's reputation. Suddenly, new information started appearing in the media that seemingly defended the tiger: the young men who got mauled might have been drinking alcohol, might have had taunted the tiger, and might have been using marijuana. So maybe it wasn't so much the zoo's fault after all? What a difference a little PR makes.

San Francisco Zoo Tiger Escape and Attack

Wed, 27 Dec 2007 12:08:00 GMT

posted by maflaw
Sitting here editing college term papers gets pretty boring so I often keep up on the news stories like the one that recently unfolded in San Francisco. It looks like the tiger that escaped his enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo may have had "help." A shoe has been found inside the no-man's land between the small fence and the larger fence and moat. Police are now speculating that the three people, one of whom was killed, may have been taunting or even trying to help the tiger escape its enclosure. My grandma used to say be careful what you wish for.

Whether these geniuses' idea was to cause mayhem upon innocent people by loosing a dangerous tiger, or they were trying to taunt it in their festive stupor, is really a moot point. Sometimes people don't realize what they are doing until they become a candidate for a Darwin Award. I can only imagine how very quickly they sobered up when their "friend" was finally "freed" and was not only not appreciative but darn right rude.

Many people are now questioning whether or not the right safeguards are in place to protect people from these wild animals that are capable of such horror. This is indeed a valid question that has been and is being considered. I think an equally pressing question now is whether the powers that be need to consider if the animals are adequately protected from humans. If the animals are going to be locked in they cannot be made subject to potential unchecked taunting or abuse. Neither can we any longer expect the posted warning signs to keep everyone out. Yet, if someone is not confident that climbing into or dangling above a tiger cage is a pretty crazy and dangerous thing, and needs to check it out for themselves, well maybe that is just natural selection.

Carlos Sousa and other victims may have taunted Tatiana

Wed, 27 Dec 2007 20:19:22 GMT

posted by danny
The tiger enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo has been declared a crime scene as investigators review clues that may indicate Tatiana was initially taunted by her victims or was aided in her escape. Clues include a bloody shoe inside the ensclosure, and pine cones and sticks that may have been thrown at the tiger. It's still speculation at this point. More details at The Telegraph.

The father of Carlos Sousa refuses at this point to believe his son could have been involved in teasing or helping the tiger, but he's waiting like everyone else to see where the evidence leads...

(Photo Credit: CNN )

S.F. Zoo Visitor Saw The Tiger Attack Victims Taunting The Animal

Wed, 3 Jan 2008 20:45:05 GMT

posted by cmj1981

A woman who visits the San Francisco Zoo every Christmas said she saw 4 boys standing at the big cat grotto. Three of the boys were apparently heckling, and teasing the tiger that later escaped its enclosure killing 1 of the young men and seriously wounding the other two.

Jennifer Miller who was at the zoo with her husband says she noticed the boys, because everyone else their that day were families.

“The boys, especially the older one, were roaring at them. He was taunting them,” the San Francisco woman said. “They were trying to get that lion’s attention. … The lion was bristling, so I just said, ‘Come on, let’s get out of here’ because my kids were disturbed by it.”

The two surviving victims have hired high powered Attorney Mark Geragos, who is undoubtedly looking for a huge cash settlement from the zoo.

Geragos came out swinging at the allegation that his clients did anything to provoke the tiger. He says the zoo is mounting a smear campaign for their “blame the victim” defense.

A huge payday for the surviving victims is almost a foregone conclusion since the zoo has already admitted that the wall to the tiger enclosure was several feet shorter than regulation.

-Samantha Giles

TIGER ATTACK VICTIMS USED SLINGSHOT ON TIGER

Wed, 3 Jan 2008 11:55:09 GMT

posted by shoes
December 31, 2007 --
SAN FRANCISCO - Two brothers who were injured when a tiger attacked them at the San Francisco Zoo had slingshots on them at the time, a source said.
An empty vodka bottle was also found in a car used by Amritpal Dhaliwal, 19, and his brother, Kulbir, 23, on the day of the mauling, which left 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. dead, according to the source.
The discoveries could be an indication that the brothers may have taunted the 350-pound Siberian tiger before it leapt from its grotto.
San Francisco cops have said since the Christmas Day incident that there was no indication the tiger was provoked.
The brothers have not commented since they left a hospital Saturday.
When the zoo opens tomorrow, the tigers will not be on display, as officials work to ensure that their enclosure is safe.
Meanwhile, an unidentified couple was allowed to hold their wedding at the zoo last night under tight security. Guests had to clear special checkpoints.

i guess getting all liquored up and taunting a goddamn tiger wasnt the best idea after all. i'm just sorry the tiger didnt kill all three of them. somebody ought to give the tiger and award.

Tatiana the Tiger - Articles - Zimbio

San Francisco Zoo Hires PR Flack to Try and Save its Skin After Tiger Mauling

San Francisco Zoo Tiger Escape and Attack

Carlos Sousa and other victims may have taunted Tatiana

S.F. Zoo Visitor Saw The Tiger Attack Victims Taunting The Animal

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TIGER ATTACK VICTIMS USED SLINGSHOT ON TIGER