On my birthday, I got up with Scott and watched the news. The tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo was the top story. My initial thought when I saw the story was, "Ok, who teased the tiger?"
Think about it, you're a tiger you have a comfortable enclosure where you can be outside or inside depending on your mood. You have food and water given to you - no need to hunt, your every whim is catered to. Why attack a couple of teenagers for no reason? Animals aren't like humans, they don't attack just to be malicious. At first the media was blaming the zoo, the wall of the enclosure is 4 1/2 feet shorter than the recommended height. Why didn't the tigers get out before then?
The two survivors aren't being forthcoming with answers either, their lawyer says they didn't taunt the tigers. Yet a witness saw them taunting the lions before the tiger attack. Hmmm. They don't taunt tigers, but they taunt lions. Feline discrimination or lying morons?
Two years ago, Scott and I went to the Lights before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo. We stopped by the tiger enclosure as we were leaving. The tiger enclosure wasn't lit up, so some really stupid morons decided to shine the flashlight into the enclosure to find the tigers. They were curled up at the back in one big pile of tigers, sleeping, minding their own business. The people kept the lights on them and called, "Here kitty, kitty kitty." and "Hey wake up back there." I immediately jumped on them and told them that it was really stupid to taunt the tigers, and tried to appeal to them. They looked at me like I was from outer space. Apparently the zoos are there for human amusement only not as a preservation of wildlife but rather an entertainment venue for Ma and Pa Trailertrash and their 14 brats. I wonder know if Mr. and Mrs. Trailertrash think about that night and count their lucky stars. (Tigers enclosure at the Toledo Zoo is an enclosure complete with chain link fence, reinforced glass viewing area and wire netting)
Tiger bathing at the Toledo Zoo - very house cat-like, but look at the size of that tongue!
It reminds me of those little brats at the polar bear exhibit. They were talking about going in there and shooting the baby polar bears. Sure they look cute and cuddly but I was immediately reminded of the strength of the animals when the baby polar bear tried to chew on me through the glass. Still, at the time I wouldn't have minded throwing the brats to the bears - teach the parents and the kids to show some respect for such powerful animals.
Look at the size of those paws - probably wouldn't have minded a bratty kid as a mid-morning snack.
Yes, zoos are wonderful, but they are the places where animals live. Treat them with respect. How would you like someone shining a light in your bedroom window when you were trying to sleep? Or how about some drunken teenagers creating taunting you and breaking into your home? Yeah, I'd bite too!
3 comments:
My first thought when I heard about the tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo: "That's the most sensible murder I've heard of in a long time." Murder bad, yes, but I'd rather it happen in the natural order then in some stupid gas station robbery.
i agree. that tiger saw thousands and thousands of people in its life at the zoo. it never attacked anyone before, and now it does out of nowhere? i doubt it. especially since people saw them taunting the lions just before they went to the tigers! AND they found a footprint on the rail!
ASSHATS.
yep total asshats!
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