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San Francisco Zoo tiger attacks

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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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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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."
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Four police officers – Scott Biggs, Yukio Oshita, Kevin O'Leary and Daniel Kroos – were honored for bravery during the incident.
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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:
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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.
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Lori Komejan was feeding Tatiana through the enclosure's grill, Tatiana clawed and pulled Komejan's right arm through the grill and bit it.
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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
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The injury resulted in several surgeries and skin grafts, and left Lori Komejan's arm severely scarred and permanently impaired.
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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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Fagan, Kevin; VanDerbeken, Jaxon; Koopman, John; Lagos, Marisa (December 27, 2007).
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named Tatiana (June 27, 2003 – December 25, 2007). In the first incident, a
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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).
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Animals shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States
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drinking age in San Francisco is 21). There was also evidence of
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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
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Rubenstein, Steve & Coté, John (January 11, 2008).
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Van Derbeken, Jaxon; Fagan, Kevin (December 29, 2007).
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Taylorm Michael; Yollin, Patricia (December 23, 2006).
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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: 221: 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 1314: 1242: 1240: 1238: 1214: 1209: 1208: 1207: 1192: 1191: 1184: 1178: 1177: 1170: 1164: 1163: 1155: 1149: 1148: 1136: 1130: 1129: 1117: 1111: 1100:Lagos, Marisa. 1098: 1092: 1091: 1080: 1074: 1063: 1057: 1052: 1046: 1040: 1034: 1033: 1031: 1029: 1014: 1008: 1007: 1000: 994: 993: 991: 989: 972: 963: 949: 940: 939: 937: 935: 930:on June 10, 2014 929: 924:. 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Index


tiger attacks
San Francisco Zoo
Siberian tiger
zookeeper
Denver Zoo
zookeeper
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
9-1-1
jugular vein
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
moat
San Francisco Chronicle
misdemeanor
cannabis






"Tiger Kills San Francisco Zoo Patron, Injures Two Others"
San Francisco Chronicle



"Zoo Keeper Hurt in Tiger Attack"
San Francisco Chronicle
"Horrified zoogoer recalls tiger attack"
San Francisco Chronicle

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