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Report Rips Zoo in Tiger Attack

Facility was understaffed and unprepared for emergency

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2008 7:37 AM CDT
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(Newser) – When a 243-pound tiger escaped its pen and began mauling Christmas Day visitors, the San Francisco Zoo was painfully understaffed and ill-equipped to respond to the emergency, according to a new report. "The zoo is too often chasing problems," concluded the independent Association of Zoos and Aquariums of the attack, in which a 17-year-old visitor died and two friends were injured.

"It appeared that the zoo lacks enough supervisory personnel in the animal care department to effectively train, oversee, and enforce existing policies and procedures," said the report. The zoo says it has since addressed many of the concerns, reports the San Francisco Chronicle, including raising the tiger wall, improving staff training, and ensuring that zookeepers stay on duty until all visitors have left.

Paul Dhaliwal leaves the funeral of his friend Carlos Sousa Jr. in San Jose, Calif., Sousa was killed by a Siberian Tiger which escaped its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day of 2007. Dhaliwal and his brother Kulbir were also attacked.
Paul Dhaliwal leaves the funeral of his friend Carlos Sousa Jr. in San Jose, Calif., Sousa was killed by a Siberian Tiger which escaped its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day of 2007....
Tatiana, a Siberian tiger that escaped and killed one man and injured two others on Christmas Day 2007 in San Francisco.
Tatiana, a Siberian tiger that escaped and killed one man and injured two others on Christmas Day 2007 in San Francisco.
Paramedics arrive at San Francisco General Hospital with one of the victims of a Christmas Day tiger attack.
Paramedics arrive at San Francisco General Hospital with one of the victims of a Christmas Day tiger attack.
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Report offers mixed reviews of SF Zoo response to tiger attacks
San Jose Mercury News

Highlights from AZA report
San Francisco Sentinel

US

 
911 call • animal attack • zookeeper • tigers • Tatiana • San Francisco Zoo • Paul Dhaliwal • Kulbir Dhaliwal • tiger attack • Christmas Day • visitors • Carlos Sousa Jr • tiger grotto

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