Stephen Oachs (ApertureAcademy.com)
Siberian Tiger (Tatiana) San Francisco Zoo Escape (2003-2007)
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San Francisco Zoo - This Siberian Tiger, named Tatiana, escaped her enclosure on December 25th, 2007 killing one zoo guest and attacked two other guests before park police shot and killed her.
It's such a sad situation -- these cats are highly endangered, with very small numbers left in the wild due to human greed (aka poachers). Yet, in an attempt to keep the species alive, captivity is required. They are such a beautiful, elegant animal that it's easy to forget they are wild and extremely dangerous. These cats are one of the most skilled hunters on the planet and to kill is deeply instinctual.
Please show your support for the San Francisco Zoo for the great work they do and let's hope the truth comes out about what really happened and how/why this cat escaped.
UPDATE MAY 13TH, 2008:
5 months later it has become pretty obvious, to me, that this poor cat was taunted by her victims -- victims that were drunk on Vodka, immature and acting like children instead of young adults.
I've followed this story very closely, I've stood at the very grotto inclosure where Tatiana lived...the very grotto that was built 70 years ago and where many, many wild animals have lived without escape. The very grotto where they found branches and pine cones that could only have found their way into that area from human interaction.
Frankly, I believe that these 3 young men went to the zoo that day to cause trouble. These are three men that had history with the law, and even after this national news event had another run-in with the law...shop-lifting this time. I have no doubt they caused Tatiana to react in a very unusual manner, and to attack. To do the very thing her deep instinctual behavior told her to do. The bottom line -- Tatiana is dead, and it's a terrible shame.
Siberian Tiger (Tatiana) San Francisco Zoo Escape (2003-2007)
Click here to View LARGE!
San Francisco Zoo - This Siberian Tiger, named Tatiana, escaped her enclosure on December 25th, 2007 killing one zoo guest and attacked two other guests before park police shot and killed her.
It's such a sad situation -- these cats are highly endangered, with very small numbers left in the wild due to human greed (aka poachers). Yet, in an attempt to keep the species alive, captivity is required. They are such a beautiful, elegant animal that it's easy to forget they are wild and extremely dangerous. These cats are one of the most skilled hunters on the planet and to kill is deeply instinctual.
Please show your support for the San Francisco Zoo for the great work they do and let's hope the truth comes out about what really happened and how/why this cat escaped.
UPDATE MAY 13TH, 2008:
5 months later it has become pretty obvious, to me, that this poor cat was taunted by her victims -- victims that were drunk on Vodka, immature and acting like children instead of young adults.
I've followed this story very closely, I've stood at the very grotto inclosure where Tatiana lived...the very grotto that was built 70 years ago and where many, many wild animals have lived without escape. The very grotto where they found branches and pine cones that could only have found their way into that area from human interaction.
Frankly, I believe that these 3 young men went to the zoo that day to cause trouble. These are three men that had history with the law, and even after this national news event had another run-in with the law...shop-lifting this time. I have no doubt they caused Tatiana to react in a very unusual manner, and to attack. To do the very thing her deep instinctual behavior told her to do. The bottom line -- Tatiana is dead, and it's a terrible shame.