Bobo Dead. Tarzan Angry.

[E72521]

From CNN:

LOXAHATCHEE, Florida (CNN) – A 600-pound tiger owned by an actor who once portrayed Tarzan was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon, a wildlife official said.

The tiger was spotted by two wildlife officers who were searching for it, and the officers prepared to shoot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, said Florida Wildlife Officer Jorge Pino.

But the animal lunged toward one of the officers, and “the officer felt threatened enough where he needed to use lethal force,” Pino said.

Former Tarzan actor Steve Sipek, however, disputed that version of events. He said the tiger, named Bobo, was sleeping and posed no threat.

“They came upon him immediately and shot him five times. Bobo never left the place he was laying,” Sipek told CNN, his shirt covered in the animal’s blood from embracing the dead tiger.

Earlier in the day, Sipek had predicted officers would kill his tiger because of “the way they were behaving.”

They were behaving like there was a fucking tiger loose in the neighborhood. What do you want them to do, post lost kitty signs and hope that poor Bobo comes home? “Lost: 600 pound cat. Goes by Bobo. Very friendly. Loves kids. Please return. Reward.” Of course they’re going to assume that the tiger is dangerous, you sorry excuse for a zoo keeper.

Asked why officers took lethal force, he told CNN, "They want glory. They want to be able to say, ‘We killed the tiger. We are the winners. We did our job. We saved the people from this vicious tiger.’ "

They did save people from your so called pet.

Wildlife officers said Bobo bit and seriously injured a woman who was working at Sipek’s home two years ago.

“Bobo was not dangerous, never was,” insisted Sipek.

“The woman that he hurt – [it] was not because he intentionally hurt her. She was on the ground and looked like something unusual. All he did was grab her. It does not take very much for the fangs to penetrate human skin.”

OK, she looked unusual. That makes everything just fine. Just as long as your neighbors don’t look unusual, everything’s gonna be peachy.

Ever hear of a couple of guys out in Vegas, Siegfried & Roy? One of them looked a little on the unusual side there for half a second too. Shit happens.

If you want to call taking life preserving measures “glory” and “being a winner”, go right ahead. If something like that comes strolling down my sidewalk, I’m shooting first and asking questions later.

Let’s see a raise of hands for anyone here that would give a 600 pound tiger the benefit of the doubt in your neighborhood.

It was not immediately clear how the tiger got out. Sipek told CNN he believes somebody opened one of three doors, allowing Bobo to escape. He added that he has had numerous problems with people trying to harm his animals in the past.

So all some bored kid on summer vacation has to do is open a door and all of the sudden its instant safari time. And he wonders why folks around him might be a little edgy.

The cats belong in a zoo, in their natural habitat, or dead. Period. Not in my or anyone else’s neighborhood. Does common sense exist?

[Casey1505]

Saw him on GMA this morning. Everyone else’s fault but his. :rolleyes:

[Ethilrist]

Wildlife officers said Bobo bit and seriously injured a woman who was working at Sipek’s home two years ago.

If Bobo was a pit bull, Bobo would have been pushing up the daisies for some two years now. How on earth did he convince them not to destroy Bobo back then???

[teela_brown]

I saw the actor on the news too. Now, granted, he was upset that his tiger had been killed, but that guy looked like he was a couple of tacos shy of a combination plate.

[John_Mace]

He’s on MSNBC right now: “They’re just looking for excuses to take my pets away from me. If they want a war with me, they’re gonna get it!”. Not exact quote, but close enough.

It’s sad that the tiger had to be killed, but let’s put the blame exactly where it belongs: Tarzan STOOOPID!

[lieu]

Sipek gives the impression of having swung into one tree too many.

Speedreading through, I first thought it said “The animal’s body has since been taken to a secure location for an autopussy.”

:eek:

That’s gonna leave a mark.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

UNGAWA!

TARZAN ANGRY!

Tarzan call Tantor the Elephant. Tarzan and Tantor trample capital of Florida to dust! YES! Tarzan & Tantor going to Disney World! Kill mouse!

Then, Tarzan get lawyer, sue Carol Burnett.

[Rodd_Hill]

Sipek told CNN he believes somebody opened one of three doors, allowing Bobo to escape.

Heh. Anyone else get the mental image of a big arena with three doors, with someone having to choose which door doesn’t have Bobo behind it?

Pure asshattery, of course: Sipek is responsible for the poor animal’s death–should never have had it in the first place. Idiots with exotic pets really piss me off…want to compensate for some personal inadequacy, Bub? Get a muscle car and leave some poor, dumb animal where it belongs.

[Rufus_Xavier]

@Rodd Hill

Get a muscle car and leave some poor, dumb animal where it belongs.

…crushed to death under the wheels of your muscle car.

[vix]

There’s some… interesting commentary about Bobo’s death on the message boards at the Palm Beach Post.

:dubious:

[Exgineer]

@vix

There’s some… interesting commentary about Bobo’s death on the message boards at the Palm Beach Post.

:dubious:

Wow. That’s all you can really say. Those people have an extremely tenuous grip on reality.

[Bryan_Ekers]

@Rodd Hill

Heh. Anyone else get the mental image of a big arena with three doors, with someone having to choose which door doesn’t have Bobo behind it?

The guards know, but they either always lie or always tell the truth. Fortunately, they’ll answer a limited number of “yes or no” questions.

[Bear_Nenno]

From that Message Board:

I’d rather see one human alive instead of 1,000 tigers.

“Animal lovers” are just plain silly. Go hug a cow.

HA HA!!

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

Maybe he should have stuck to Pokemon.

[Guinastasia]

“Sipek has another tiger, a panther, a cougar and lions on his five-acre compound, which is marked by a sign that reads, “Trespassers will be eaten.” They did not escape”

Holy shit.

A real gem:

[quote]

If he does file a lawsuit, that’s his right. I would do the same. There are tax free countries I guess… they’re mostly third-worldish and you probably wouldn’t want to live there… this guy doesn’t want to hurt anyone… he just wanted to be left alone… he begged them to let him go in after Bobo… they refused… they shot him only when they knew that Steve wasn’t around. He’s cared for these animals for over 32 years … all out of his own pocket… he didn’t ask for this… he begged to fix it… they wouldn’t let him…

[quote]

[Guinastasia]

And the real gem is that I can’t code for shit. Dammit.

[Tuckerfan]

@vix

There’s some… interesting commentary about Bobo’s death on the message boards at the Palm Beach Post.

:dubious:

Oh, Lordy!

WAS BOBO RAPED?
AFTER HE WAS KILLED???

RUMORS ARE FLYING
WHAT A SICKO FISH COP

I think “an extremely tenuous grip on reality” is putting it mildly. :dubious:

[Albert_Rose]

Quite frankly, I feel bad about this. I know that the tiger had to be killed, given the circumstances (Bared teeth, ears back, lunging at the officer), but I still feel bad. Mr. Sipek was very attached to his pet, and lost someone very close to him.

“They murdered him. They murdered him. They murdered my Bobo,” he wailed in grief. "They want the glory. They want to say, ‘We killed the tiger. We saved the people.’ "

Then I read this while eating, and damn near spit my chicken out all over my plate. I am a horrible man for laughing my ass off at this.

[Tuckerfan]

Anybody bother to check the imdb on this guy? 'Cos, I just did, and well, Tarzan he ain’t.

In Spain his character was referred to as Tarzan but when they were released in English language territories they directly avoided mentioning the Tarzan name, instead referring to Hawkes character as Zan of the Jungle.

Apparently, however, his best known role in the US was as a

monster turkey

I think that explains a few things.

[stockton]

@Tuckerfan

Anybody bother to check the imdb on this guy?

Thanks, as usual, Tuck - Here’s the paragraph that you’re HINTING at and didn’t quote for the non-clickers:

“In 1971 he played the lead in the much loved exploitation movie Blood Freak in which he turns into a monster turkey.”

I merely copied it for the lazier dopers like me - Tarzan? HAW HAW HAW.

I still feel really bad for the poor cat, but WTF? Keep your pets in your own yard, or don’t complain about how other folks might have to deal with them. Especially when they weigh more than your car.