# A boy in Brazil almost won the Darwin Awards **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142 "2014-08-09T02:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/21 "2014-08-09T14:57:45Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > The kid has the small consolation of telling people he got his arm bit off by a tiger rather than all the other more mundane ways people lose limbs. "…and when he was chewing my arm off, I looked up towards the sky and screamed… [\* …KHAN!!!"\*](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EnsUeR2MyI) :smack: “…Shir-ley you jest…” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/22 "2014-08-09T15:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > A boy in Brazil almost won the Darwin Awards “Almost” only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. By an odd coincidence, both of those things often figure into **actual** Darwin Awards. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/23 "2014-08-09T15:58:39Z")
A typical kid has maybe seen trained lions and tigers at the circus. They’ve maybe watched footage of a big cat taking down a gazelle out in the wild. But that evokes a feeling of awe more than fear, because it is easy enough to reason that a lion or a tiger wouldn’t act that way with a human. So I don’t blame the kid for seeing the lions and tigers as housecats on steroids. I probably had the same perception when I was that age. But climbing the fence? That’s evidence of poor impulse control right there. I can’t imagine a regular, run-of-the-mill 11-year-old doing something like that. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time he’s shown this kind of behavior, and that means the father needs to be held accountable for leaving him unsupervised. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/24 "2014-08-09T16:13:48Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > "…and when he was chewing my arm off, I looked up towards the sky and screamed… > > [\* …KHAN!!!"\*](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EnsUeR2MyI) :smack: > “…Shir-ley you jest…” That’s [_Shere_ Khan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shere_Khan%22%5B/url). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/25 "2014-08-09T16:47:46Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > One part of my brain began insisting, “MUST PET BIG KITTY!” I get that. They have such disarming faces. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/26 "2014-08-09T16:58:07Z")
> [@Artemis\_Tardis](#): > > It seems that the zoo will not kill the Tiger. He is actually back to his original cage. But the boy’s father got a lawyer. They will sue the zoo. I’d like the zoo to sue them, but I’m not sure for what exactly. Trespassing maybe? Endangering an endangered species? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/27 "2014-08-09T16:59:26Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’d like the zoo to sue them, but I’m not sure for what exactly. Trespassing maybe? Endangering an endangered species? Providing entertainment for other zoo visitors without permission. ---
**Author:** ![cardinal\_fang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal_fang/32/15316_2.png) [@cardinal\_fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cardinal_fang)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/28 "2014-08-09T17:04:13Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Am I the only person with a “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” earworm right now? Not anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/29 "2014-08-09T17:21:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Bad accident The kid stuck his arm in the cage on purpose, and the tiger bit it off on purpose. What was the accidental part? > [@Flyer](#): > > I can understand the impulse that the boy likely felt. One time at my local zoo, a tiger laid down very close to the glass in the viewing area. > > One part of my brain began insisting, “MUST PET BIG KITTY!” > [@monstro](#): > > A typical kid has maybe seen trained lions and tigers at the circus. They’ve maybe watched footage of a big cat taking down a gazelle out in the wild. But that evokes a feeling of awe more than fear, because it is easy enough to reason that a lion or a tiger wouldn’t act that way with a human. > > So I don’t blame the kid for seeing the lions and tigers as housecats on steroids. I probably had the same perception when I was that age. Yeah. “Tigers are dangerous” may seem obvious to us, but I can easily imagine a kid making it to 11 without really learning the lesson. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/30 "2014-08-09T17:36:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The kid stuck his arm in the cage on purpose, and the tiger bit it off on purpose. What was the accidental part? > > Yeah. “Tigers are dangerous” may seem obvious to us, but I can easily imagine a kid making it to 11 without really learning the lesson. He has now. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/31 "2014-08-09T17:39:10Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > [http://news.sky.com/story/1311010/tiger-attack-boy-loses-arm-at-brazil-zoo](http://news.sky.com/story/1311010/tiger-attack-boy-loses-arm-at-brazil-zoo) > > The boy is 11. He was trying to pet the tiger through the cage in an area they weren’t supposed to be in. Don’t worry, the video doesn’t show the attack, just the kid trying to pet the cute tiger. The video I saw shows the prolonged, extreme teasing the kid directed at the tiger. Video was followed with still photos of the damaged arm, which was quite literally shredded. That was one frustrated/pissed off cat. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/32 "2014-08-09T17:50:44Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > The video I saw shows the prolonged, extreme teasing the kid directed at the tiger. Video was followed with still photos of the damaged arm, which was quite literally shredded. That was one frustrated/pissed off cat. Ah. Well, tease a tiger… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/33 "2014-08-09T18:38:58Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’d like the zoo to sue them, but I’m not sure for what exactly. Trespassing maybe? Endangering an endangered species? Feeding the animals. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/34 "2014-08-09T18:48:05Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Bad accident and I’m pretty sure at 11 I knew better. I’ll be pissed if the tiger is killed because of this, but that’s usually how it works in stupid human vs. animal attacks. Isn’t this only the case when the animal has to, or at least likely will, interact with humans? A dog that bites may do it again. A wild tiger that eats people may realize they’re easy pickin’s. A tiger in a zoo is supposed to be dangerous, but kept away from people permanently. > [@monstro](#): > > A typical kid has maybe seen trained lions and tigers at the circus. They’ve maybe watched footage of a big cat taking down a gazelle out in the wild. But that evokes a feeling of awe more than fear, because it is easy enough to reason that a lion or a tiger wouldn’t act that way with a human. > > So I don’t blame the kid for seeing the lions and tigers as housecats on steroids. I probably had the same perception when I was that age. No. Only a really dumb 11-year-old would think like that. Tigers and lions, along with sharks, are the classic dangerous animal. If anything, I’d expect a kid to have a exaggerated sense of the danger a tiger would post. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/35 "2014-08-09T18:58:12Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’d like the zoo to sue them, but I’m not sure for what exactly. Trespassing maybe? Endangering an endangered species? Trying to poison an endangered species by offering it an unapproved food item. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/36 "2014-08-09T19:00:09Z")
Wow. Just watched some video. That kid really was annoying the tiger. Was his name Calvin? ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/37 "2014-08-09T19:01:01Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > If anything, I’d expect a kid to have a exaggerated sense of the danger a tiger would post. Or pose… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/38 "2014-08-09T19:31:54Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > No. Only a really dumb 11-year-old would think like that. I was a really dumb 11-year-old, then. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/39 "2014-08-09T19:42:35Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Or pose… I dunno. Tigers can be pretty mean when they post. Total cyber-bullies. You probably haven’t seen a post, because they usually manage to get themselves banned pretty quickly from most message boards-- that, plus the whole “endangered species” thing. They are also really bad spellers, so sometimes their posts get pulled for incoherency. Try Reddit. They always want the screen name “maneater,” or “Hobbes,” so look for “maneater1000,” or “Hobbes2001.” Also, “Hobs,” Hobz," and “maneeter.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142/40 "2014-08-09T20:20:33Z")
This reminds me of an 11 year old boy who was killed in Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn after he and two other boys entered a polar bear enclosure. > **[POLAR BEARS KILL A CHILD AT PROSPECT PARK ZOO (Published 1987)](https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/20/nyregion/polar-bears-kill-a-child-at-prospect-park-zoo.html)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boy-in-brazil-almost-won-the-darwin-awards/695142.md?page=3)