175:
22:
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time of the attack. In later reports, the police denied that slingshots were found in the victims' car or at the zoo. Zoo visitor
Jennifer Miller and her family allegedly saw the group of men, including an unidentified fourth person, taunting lions less than an hour before the tiger attack. She later identified Carlos Sousa as being part of the group but said Sousa did not join in the taunting. An attorney representing the Dhaliwal brothers stated that they had not taunted the tiger.
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131:
lower than what they had thought initially and what was recorded in zoo records. It was also substantially lower than the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums' recommended minimum, 16 feet 4 inches (4.98 m), for such enclosures. Tatiana's rear paws were embedded with concrete chips, suggesting that she had pushed against the moat wall during her escape.
165:
described the attitude of the
Dhaliwals as "hostile" to the police following the attack, reporting that they initially refused to identify themselves or Carlos Sousa to the police, refused to give interviews to the police until two days after the attack, and would not speak publicly about the details
122:
It was not immediately apparent how
Tatiana had escaped, but police said that Tatiana may have "leaped" or "climbed" the walls of her enclosure. Police undertook an investigation to determine whether one of the victims climbed over a waist-high fence and then dangled a leg or other body part over the
190:
Help make the zoo a safe environment. The magnificent animals in the zoo are wild and possess all their natural instincts. You are a guest in their home. Please remember they are sensitive and have feelings. PLEASE don't tap on glass, throw anything into exhibits, make excessive noise, tease or call
130:
Two days after the attack, on
December 27, 2007, the zoo reported that while the moat, at 33 feet wide, was sufficient by national standards, its initial claim that the grotto's moat wall was 20 feet (6.1 m) tall was incorrect; officials measured it at 12.5 feet (3.8 m) tall, substantially
102:
Armed officials found
Tatiana with Kulbir Dhaliwal, but held fire at first for fear of hitting Dhaliwal. They created a distraction which caused the tiger to turn towards the officers, who shot her through the forehead. The Dhaliwal brothers received deep bites and claw wounds on their heads, necks,
90:
Shortly after closing time on
December 25, 2007, Tatiana escaped from her open-air enclosure, killing 17-year-old Carlos Eduardo Sousa Jr. and injuring brothers Amritpal "Paul" Dhaliwal and Kulbir Dhaliwal (19 and 23 years old, respectively). The three men had been witnessed throwing objects at and
182:
On
February 16, 2008, the zoo re-opened the exterior tiger exhibit which was extensively renovated to meet the extension of the concrete moat wall up to the minimum height of 16 feet 4 inches from the bottom of the moat, installation of glass fencing on the top of the wall to extend the height
141:
that pine cones and sticks that might have been thrown at
Tatiana had been found and which could not have landed in the vicinity naturally. Paul Dhaliwal later said that the three had yelled and waved at the tiger. According to early news sources, the Dhaliwal brothers had slingshots on them at the
152:
Toxicology reports disclosed in mid-January indicated a blood alcohol level of 0.16 for 19-year-old
Amritpal Dhaliwal, twice the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle, and that alcohol was also present but under the legal driving limits for Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, and for Carlos Sousa, 17 (legal
134:
In the days immediately following the attack, the director of the zoo stated that Tatiana was probably provoked. He said, "Somebody created a situation that really agitated her and gave her some sort of a method to break out. There is no possible way the cat could have made it out of there in a
98:
The emergency response was delayed, first because cafe employees said in their call that they suspected that the screaming person was mentally ill and that there was no actual animal attack, and later because zoo security guards were enforcing a lockdown to prevent Tatiana from escaping the zoo
103:
arms, and hands. They left the hospital on December 29. Sousa was found dead near the tiger grotto with blunt-force injuries to his head and neck, many punctures and scratches to his head, neck and chest, skull and spinal fractures, and a cut to his
157:
use amongst all three. Reporters also noted that "olice found a small amount of marijuana in Kulbir Dhaliwal's 2002 BMW, which the victims drove to the zoo, as well as a partially filled bottle of vodka, according to court documents."
1286:
57:
on June 25, 2003, and was brought to the San Francisco Zoo on December 16, 2005, to provide the 14-year-old Siberian tiger, Tony, with a mate. Tatiana had no prior record of aggression towards humans.
1271:
145:
In early January 2008, the lead investigator for the city said that the men may have harassed Tatiana, but no charges were filed against them for such behavior. Taunting a zoo animal is a
76:
114:
said the attack was the first time a visitor had been killed by an escaped animal at a member zoo since the Association's founding in 1924. The zoo was closed until January 3, 2008.
780:
744:
45:
was bitten on the arm during a public feeding. In the second incident, one person was killed and two others were injured before police shot and killed Tatiana on the scene.
200:
On December 25, 2008, a life-size concrete-and-tile sculpture of Tatiana, by Jon Engdahl, was unveiled at the community garden on the Greenwich Steps at 274 Greenwich.
718:
423:
91:
taunting the animal. Afterwards, the two brothers fled to the zoo cafe 300 yards (270 m) away, which was locked. An employee heard their screams and called
79:
determined that the zoo had inadequate safety precautions and staff training and fined it $ 18,000. Komejan sued the zoo, settling in 2008 on undisclosed terms.
203:
Four police officers – Scott Biggs, Yukio Oshita, Kevin O'Leary and Daniel Kroos – were honored for bravery during the incident.
955:
186:
The zoo also installed portable loudspeakers that remind visitors to leave promptly at the 5 p.m. closing time and "Protect the Animals" signs that read:
1281:
206:
In 2009, a suit by the Dhaliwal brothers against the zoo was settled for $ 900,000 and one by Sousa's parents was settled on undisclosed terms.
69:
Lori Komejan was feeding Tatiana through the enclosure's grill, Tatiana clawed and pulled Komejan's right arm through the grill and bit it.
1276:
1159:
802:
135:
single leap. I would surmise that there was help. A couple of feet dangling over the edge could possibly have done it." Sources told the
1083:
174:
1301:
295:
111:
896:
852:
691:
235:
976:
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72:
The injury resulted in several surgeries and skin grafts, and left Lori Komejan's arm severely scarred and permanently impaired.
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497:
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555:
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Both Dhaliwal brothers subsequently got into trouble with the law. Amritpal Dhaliwal died in 2012 at age 24.
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856:
810:
34:
551:
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154:
737:"Tiger grotto wall shorter than thought, may have contributed to escape and fatal attack"
452:
900:
38:
1250:
770:
352:
464:
Fagan, Kevin; VanDerbeken, Jaxon; Koopman, John; Lagos, Marisa (December 27, 2007).
104:
30:
645:
926:
41:
named Tatiana (June 27, 2003 – December 25, 2007). In the first incident, a
146:
735:
Fagan, Kevin; Vega, Cecilia M.; Coté, John; Lagos, Marisa (December 28, 2007).
1201:
54:
66:
42:
1160:"Brothers receive $ 900,000 settlement for San Francisco zoo tiger attack"
1017:
1003:
348:
1187:
977:"Police: Zoo Survivor Told of Standing on Railing and Yelling at Tiger"
1230:
1225:
575:"Father of boy killed by tiger says he'd like to hear from survivors"
498:"Police, fire logs in S.F. tiger mauling show scene of chaos, delay"
877:
Yollin, Patricia; Schevitz, Tanya; Fagan, Kevin (January 3, 2008).
692:"S.F. Braces for 'Circus' at First Public Hearing on Tiger Mauling"
1287:
Animals shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States
173:
92:
20:
1084:"San Franciscans Flock to the Shrine of Tatiana the Killer Tiger"
153:
drinking age in San Francisco is 21). There was also evidence of
524:"S.F. Zoo investigating tiger attack, but first it is reopening"
124:
1043:
Tiger survivor told dead youth's mother "We didn't do nothing"
879:"S.F. Zoo visitor saw 2 victims of tiger attack teasing lions"
806:
82:
The tiger cage was remodeled and re-opened in September 2007.
803:"Police: Tiger attack victim was drinking, admitted taunting"
956:
S.F. Zoo visitor saw 2 victims of tiger attack teasing lions
345:"Police: San Francisco Tiger Attack May Have Been Provoked"
771:"Wall Isolating Tiger Habitat Is Shorter Than Zoos Advise"
236:"Tiger Kills San Francisco Zoo Patron, Injures Two Others"
77:
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
690:
Rubenstein, Steve & Coté, John (January 11, 2008).
496:
Van Derbeken, Jaxon; Fagan, Kevin (December 29, 2007).
267:
Taylorm Michael; Yollin, Patricia (December 23, 2006).
183:
to 19 feet, and installation of electrified "hotwire".
351:. Associated Press. December 26, 2007. Archived from
1004:"Experts: Taunts Not Only Factor In SF Tiger Attack"
809:. Associated Press. January 17, 2008. Archived from
916:"SF wants $ 75,000 Back from Tiger Attack Survivor"
1188:"San Francisco Zoo Tiger Attack: Five Years Later"
925:
597:"California teen named as victim of tiger mauling"
1272:Deaths due to animal attacks in the United States
1018:"Tiger attack victim admits taunting, police say"
764:
762:
730:
728:
517:
515:
851:Berg, Emmett; Olshan, Jeremy (January 1, 2008).
453:ABC News: Tiger Attack Sparks Crime Scene Photos
1073:, p. B-2; also in online edition at SFGate.Com.
466:"Video of Authorities in the San Francisco Zoo"
1102:Cops who shot tiger to be recognized as heroes
25:Tatiana at the San Francisco Zoo, October 2007
970:
968:
8:
1176:. San Francisco Examiner. November 26, 2010.
897:"Evidence May Show Cover-Up In Tiger Attack"
717:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
677:JEMS - Journal of Emergency Medical Services
379:, San Diego Union-Tribune, January 16, 2009.
377:SF zookeeper mauled by tiger settles lawsuit
37:, in 2006 and 2007, both involving a female
1141:"Zoo settles with brothers in tiger attack"
1104:, January 16, 2009, "City Insider" column,
417:
415:
229:
227:
225:
223:
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1122:"Tiger attack victims both arrested again"
834:"Mauling Survivor Said he Yelled at Tiger"
568:
566:
564:
491:
489:
487:
332:SF Settles with Zoo Keeper Mauled by Tiger
962:print edition; also online at SFGate.com.
947:
945:
424:"Victim may have helped zoo tiger escape"
422:Elsworth, Catherine (December 27, 2007).
390:"Tiger Escapes S.F. Zoo Cage and Kills 1"
327:
325:
323:
321:
262:
260:
258:
1243:collection of articles and related media
1174:"Tiger Attack Tapes Turn Up Tasty Treat"
975:Van Derbeken, Jaxon (January 18, 2008).
832:Van Derbeken, Jaxon (January 17, 2008).
372:
370:
296:"Horrified zoogoer recalls tiger attack"
1067:Sculpture of Tatiana the tiger unveiled
899:. CBS. January 16, 2008. Archived from
769:Marshall, Carolyn (December 28, 2007).
554:, June 2, 2008. KGO-TV San Francisco,
547:
545:
234:Rubenstein, Steve (December 27, 2007).
217:
710:
619:"Newlyweds party at San Francisco Zoo"
1055:S.F. Zoo's big cats meet people again
783:from the original on October 14, 2017
7:
1024:. Associated Press. January 18, 2008
573:Solis, Suzanne (December 30, 2007).
1190:. abc7news.com. December 25, 2012.
914:Collins, Terry (January 3, 2009).
747:from the original on July 30, 2012
646:"US Zoo Baffled by Tiger's Escape"
334:, January 17, 2009, Bay City News.
14:
1229:. January 6, 2008. Archived from
269:"Zoo Keeper Hurt in Tiger Attack"
112:Association of Zoos and Aquariums
65:On December 22, 2006, as veteran
1221:"San Francisco Zoo Tiger Attack"
1204:
1120:Lee, Henry K. (August 7, 2009).
673:"Escaped Tiger Stalked Brothers"
522:Podell, Nick (January 3, 2008).
1282:Accidental deaths in California
853:"tall_order_for_deadly_barrier"
644:BBC Staff (December 26, 2007).
16:2006 and 2007 attacks on humans
1:
1212:San Francisco Bay Area portal
394:Louise Chu (Associated Press)
178:The updated tiger enclosures
127:around the tiger enclosure.
1277:Deaths due to tiger attacks
1158:Mark Gomez (May 29, 2009).
1139:Coté, John (May 29, 2009).
883:The San Francisco Chronicle
1323:
1006:. CBS 5. January 18, 2008.
166:of what happened to them.
1045:, San Francisco Chronicle
938:– via HighBeam.com.
577:. San Francisco Chronicle
552:Read Tiger Attack Autopsy
500:. San Francisco Chronicle
1302:History of San Francisco
960:San Francisco Chronicle,
599:. CNN. December 26, 2007
53:Tatiana was born at the
1107:San Francisco Chronicle
1071:San Francisco Chronicle
992:– via SFGate.com.
982:San Francisco Chronicle
838:San Francisco Chronicle
741:San Francisco Chronicle
707:– via SFGate.com.
697:San Francisco Chronicle
528:San Francisco Chronicle
470:San Francisco Chronicle
304:San Francisco Chronicle
274:San Francisco Chronicle
251:– via SFGate.com.
241:San Francisco Chronicle
163:San Francisco Chronicle
138:San Francisco Chronicle
193:
179:
26:
1307:2007 in San Francisco
1088:San Francisco Citizen
1069:, December 26, 2008,
903:on February 20, 2008.
188:
177:
24:
679:. December 26, 2007.
434:on December 29, 2007
958:, January 3, 2008.
813:on January 19, 2008
428:The Daily Telegraph
400:. December 26, 2007
398:The Washington Post
355:on February 8, 2009
1297:Zoos in California
1292:2007 in California
1262:2007 animal deaths
1257:2003 animal births
1233:on January 6, 2008
951:Yollin, Patricia,
776:The New York Times
180:
149:in San Francisco.
27:
1267:Individual tigers
857:The New York Post
625:. January 1, 2008
306:. January 1, 2007
196:Subsequent events
35:San Francisco Zoo
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31:tiger attacks
23:
19:
1235:. Retrieved
1231:the original
1224:
1182:
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1125:
1115:
1110:via SF Gate.
1105:
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932:. Retrieved
927:the original
919:
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901:the original
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860:. Retrieved
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815:. Retrieved
811:the original
797:
785:. Retrieved
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749:. Retrieved
713:cite journal
701:. Retrieved
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657:December 26,
655:. Retrieved
649:
639:
627:. Retrieved
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603:December 26,
601:. Retrieved
591:
581:December 31,
579:. Retrieved
532:. Retrieved
530:. SFGate.com
527:
504:December 29,
502:. Retrieved
476:December 27,
474:. Retrieved
472:. SFGate.com
469:
459:
448:
438:December 27,
436:. Retrieved
432:the original
404:December 26,
402:. Retrieved
393:
384:
359:December 26,
357:. Retrieved
353:the original
339:
310:December 26,
308:. Retrieved
299:
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278:. Retrieved
272:
245:. Retrieved
239:
208:
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191:out to them.
189:
185:
181:
162:
160:
151:
144:
136:
133:
129:
121:
109:
105:jugular vein
101:
97:
95:at 5:07 pm.
89:
81:
74:
71:
64:
61:First attack
52:
28:
18:
1022:NBCNEWS.com
817:January 17,
147:misdemeanor
1251:Categories
1237:August 17,
862:January 2,
534:January 3,
426:. London:
213:References
123:edge of a
55:Denver Zoo
49:Background
921:AP Online
623:USA Today
99:grounds.
67:zookeeper
43:zookeeper
1028:March 8,
988:March 4,
934:March 4,
787:June 10,
781:Archived
751:June 10,
745:Archived
703:March 4,
556:ABC News
349:Fox News
280:March 4,
247:March 4,
155:cannabis
629:May 23,
170:Changes
1226:SFGate
1145:SFGate
1126:SFGate
953:et al.
93:9-1-1
1239:2020
1030:2017
990:2017
936:2017
864:2008
819:2008
789:2024
753:2024
719:link
705:2017
659:2007
631:2010
605:2007
583:2007
536:2008
506:2007
478:2007
440:2007
406:2007
361:2007
312:2007
282:2017
249:2017
161:The
125:moat
110:The
75:The
29:Two
807:CNN
1253::
1223:.
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967:^
944:^
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761:^
743:.
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727:^
715:}}
711:{{
694:.
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