On christmas of 2007 Tatiana, a Siberian tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped from her enclosure and attacked 3 visitors, killing one. She ended up paying for her instinctive behaviors with her life.
It is unclear how and why the tiger escaped, but keepers believe that she leapt the massive moat surrounding her enclosure. Clearly, this has not happened at this exhibit before, and animals do not spend precious energy leaping ditches to attack visitors without being provoked in some way. After making it to the zoo pathways, the tiger became scared, and fled to the shaded cafe to find shelter. This is where she killed the zoo guest, most likely out of fear and despiration. When police arrived, they promptly shot and killed the endangered species. Would it be so difficult for them to arrive at this type of emergency armed with tranquilizers? Why didn't the Zoo have one? After two tragic deaths, it is now time for people to begin pointing fingers. Many people have brought up the fact that last year, this same tiger was involved in an incident where she bit a trainer's arm (through the cage bars). Many people now believe that the tiger should have been euthanized. Trainers are instructed to never enter the range of a tiger's mouth, so this is in no way the fault of the tiger. If the Zoo had chosen to euthanize the tiger, many people who now disagree would have been completely against the idea. Please form your own opinion, but make sure you are fully educated in the matter before you begin to hate tigers, as many will. (read less)

On christmas of 2007 Tatiana, a Siberian tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped from her enclosure and attacked 3 visitors, killing one. She ended up paying for her instinctive behaviors with her life.
It is unclear how and why the tiger escaped, but keepers believe that she leapt the massive moat surrounding her enclosure. Clearly, this has not happened at this exhibit before, and animals do not spend precious energy leaping ditches to attack visitors without being provoked in some way.... (read more)