# Escaped Tiger in San Francisco **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 26, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255 "2007-12-26T03:48:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [December 27, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/61 "2007-12-27T00:42:25Z")
“Dude, check out the menu. Under Daily Special, it says Human…” _screaming ensues_ hey, **psychobunny** , get back here. We’re chartering a bus. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/62 "2007-12-27T00:51:38Z")
Just saw\*\* rocking chairs\*\* post. Sick minds think alike. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/63 "2007-12-27T00:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] I must say this has been by far and and away the WORST display of puns I have ever seen on the dope. Each attempted joke made me die a little inside. Not unlike having my sanity eaten away by a tiger. [/QUOTE] Yes, we really showed our stripes today. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/64 "2007-12-27T01:14:17Z")
It was feeding time. The humans thought it was a cafe for them. They were wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/65 "2007-12-27T01:25:25Z")
[QUOTE=runner pat] “Dude, check out the menu. Under Daily Special, it says Human…” _screaming ensues_ hey, **psychobunny** , get back here. We’re chartering a bus. [/QUOTE] Oops, that said Hunan. My bad! Dammit! The first was unintentional (even though I still hit submit after I realized the unintentional pun), the second was borderline. This is definitely a ticket on the hell bus. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/66 "2007-12-27T01:46:03Z")
I would definitely prefer to go by means of tragicomedy, or traumedy. For example, if pursued by the tiger, I would make my final life’s dash while singing aloud the [Meow Mix jingle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDIkpY6QsQU), a la Homer Simpson thinking to himself in court. _Meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow…_ I shall die as I lived: not taking it all too seriously! And who knows, I might paralyze someone with laughter en route, thus causing him to fall behind and take my place as tiger food. It’s all good, one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/67 "2007-12-27T02:07:19Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] This isn’t a “my coffee was too hot for my crotch” lawsuit. This one might have some teeth. Someone died and two others were severely injured. [/QUOTE] Sure, but it should not be enough to shut down the zoo forever as the original comment implied. [QUOTE=DanBlather] Too bad we don’t have a legal system like Dubai. [/QUOTE] This rape case got huge press here of course and the guy who did this will now have 15 years to think about it: [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/12/10174265.html](http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/12/10174265.html) I would imagine this will get harsher if medical tests which come back next month show the victim was infected with HIV. It was interesting that TIME got the name of the UAE leader wrong - Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan al-Nahyan died in 2004. Crime here is increasing but nowhere near Western levels yet. Don’t get into cars with people you don’t know. OK… off topic - enough for now. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/68 "2007-12-27T02:11:54Z")
[QUOTE=Desert Nomad] I would imagine this will get harsher if medical tests which come back next month show the victim was infected with HIV. [/QUOTE] Wait, the tiger had AIDs? How is that even possible? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/69 "2007-12-27T02:12:24Z")
Wait a minute… did somebody rape this tiger? Then there might be a justification defense, if the tiger wasn’t already dead. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/70 "2007-12-27T02:19:32Z")
Sorry, I left a message thinking a lawsuit to shut down the zoo was over the top, and DanBlather pointed out this article about the Dubai legal system: [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1680682,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1680682,00.html) I was replying to that with a followup of the case. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/71 "2007-12-27T02:42:00Z")
[QUOTE=Desert Nomad] Sure, but it should not be enough to shut down the zoo forever as the original comment implied. … [/QUOTE] Heh. Are you referring to my orginal comment? My original comment was that unfortunately the zoo may end up getting shut down because of the impending lawsuits (let’s face it we know they’re going to be sued over this). I was not calling for the zoo to be shut down. In fact I’d hate to see the zoo shut down because the chances are that all the animals may not be able to be relocated to better zoos. However, this zoo has now had two serious incidents, one fatal, relating to their tigers and they definitely cannot continue to display tigers until they get their shit together which they may not be able to do because of the impending lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/72 "2007-12-27T04:14:12Z")
Actually, since learning [these facts](http://lawandhelp.com/q298-2.htm) about the McDonald’s coffee lawsuit, I’ve not thought it was frivolous. See [here](http://www.centerjd.org/free/mythbusters-free/MB_mcdonalds.htm), too. And I’ve never sued anyone. I’d sure sue this zoo, though, if it were me mauled or my relative killed. I’m hearing now that the zoo is being treated as a “crime scene.” There seemed to be a hint in the news report that they may think someone could have let the tiger out. Maybe as a joke? Haha. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/73 "2007-12-27T04:22:21Z")
I will say this for the cops that shot the tiger: They sure have their post-shooting testimony down pat: > [@](#): > > The police chief said the animal was mauling the man, and when officers yelled at it to stop, it turned toward them and they opened fire. Sounds like a righteous shooting to me! ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/74 "2007-12-27T04:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] … I’d sure sue this zoo, though, if it were me mauled or my relative killed. I’m hearing now that the zoo is being treated as a “crime scene.” There seemed to be a hint in the news report that they may think someone could have let the tiger out. Maybe as a joke? Haha. ☹ [/QUOTE] They have also said that the fatality was near the pen, and they believe the other two that were injured had been with him and ran towards the cafe to get away from the tiger. Then again, even if these young men were messing around with the tiger pen one would still have to wonder how anyone could just open the pen. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/75 "2007-12-27T04:56:01Z")
If something were done or not done with a sufficient degree of negligence, it could certainly end up with criminal charges. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/76 "2007-12-27T05:00:04Z")
[Here’s an update.](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5405492.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/77 "2007-12-27T05:10:49Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] [Here’s an update.](http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5405492.html) [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > Although some zoo officials speculate the threesome may have teased the tiger… SHE was the tease, a naked pussy strolling around a park. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/78 "2007-12-27T05:17:37Z")
In Dubai they’d cane the victims for enticing the tiger. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/79 "2007-12-27T05:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] In Dubai they’d cane the victims for enticing the tiger. [/QUOTE] In Soviet Union tigers entice _you_. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255/80 "2007-12-27T05:38:39Z")
Even if the three were teasing the tiger, I don’t see how that’s a defense for the zoo. Kids tease animals at the zoo. It’s stupid, and a bit heartless. But it happens. And so the zoo enclosures for dangerous predators should take that into account. _sigh_ I can imagine that it may affect what a jury would decide to award in a wrongful death suit, though, if they could prove the teens were teasing the tiger. I was also struck by this quote: > [@](#): > > San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo said the zoo has a response team that is armed with tranquilizers and firearms, but that the scene unfolded “so quickly that the officers found (Tatiana) first.” I’ve been to the SF zoo, many years ago, and ISTR that it was possible for vehicles to drive right into the park, if necessary, so I can understand why the police would have a quick response time for this. But I still cannot fathom why such a zoo response team wouldn’t beat the police to the scene. I can see that other animals are of concern, esp if the zoo’s elephants are allowed to mingle with crowds (even with zookeepers monitoring things), than just the tigers, but wouldn’t the tiger enclosure be one of the more sensible places to stage that sort of team anyways? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaped-tiger-in-san-francisco/431255.md?page=5)