San Francisco Zoo tiger attacks facts for kids
Two tiger attacks happened at the San Francisco Zoo. Both incidents involved a female Siberian tiger named Tatiana. The first attack was in 2006, when a zookeeper was bitten. The second attack was in 2007. In this event, one person died and two others were hurt. Police then shot and killed Tatiana.
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About Tatiana
Tatiana was born at the Denver Zoo on June 25, 2003. She came to the San Francisco Zoo on December 16, 2005. She was meant to be a mate for Tony, another Siberian tiger. Before these events, Tatiana had never shown aggression towards people.
First Incident
On December 22, 2006, a zookeeper named Lori Komejan was feeding Tatiana. The tiger pulled the zookeeper's arm through the cage grill and bit it.
Safety officials later found that the zoo did not have enough safety rules or staff training. The zoo was fined for these issues. The zookeeper was seriously hurt and needed medical care. She later reached an agreement with the zoo.
The tiger's home was changed and opened again in September 2007.
Second Incident
On December 25, 2007, just after the zoo closed, Tatiana escaped. She got out of her open-air home. She attacked and killed 17-year-old Carlos Eduardo Sousa Jr. She also hurt two brothers, Amritpal "Paul" Dhaliwal (19) and Kulbir Dhaliwal (23).
The brothers ran to a zoo cafe about 300 meters away. It was locked. A zoo worker heard their shouts and called for help. The police arrived and found Tatiana with Kulbir Dhaliwal. They shot Tatiana to protect the people.
The Dhaliwal brothers had deep bites and claw marks on their heads, necks, arms, and hands. They left the hospital a few days later. Carlos Sousa Jr. was found near the tiger area. He had serious injuries to his head, neck, and chest.
Zoo officials said this was the first time a visitor had been killed by an escaped animal at a zoo that was part of their group since 1924. The zoo was closed until January 3, 2008.
How Tatiana Escaped
It was not clear at first how Tatiana got out. Police thought she might have "leaped" or "climbed" the walls of her home. They also looked into whether one of the visitors had climbed over a small fence and put a leg or body part over the edge of the moat around the tiger area.
Two days after the attack, the zoo said the moat was 33 feet wide, which was standard. However, they had been wrong about the height of the moat wall. It was 12.5 feet tall, not 18 feet. This was lower than the recommended 16.5 feet for such homes. Tatiana's back paws had concrete chips in them. This suggested she had pushed against the moat wall to escape.
After the attack, the zoo director said Tatiana was likely provoked. He thought someone might have made her angry. He said, "There is no possible way the cat could have made it out of there in a single leap." He thought someone might have dangled a foot over the edge. Reports said that pine cones and sticks, which could have been thrown at Tatiana, were found. Paul Dhaliwal later said they had yelled and waved at the tiger.
A zoo visitor and her family said they saw the group of men teasing lions before the tiger attack. She said Carlos Sousa was with the group but did not join in the teasing. An attorney for the Dhaliwal brothers said they had not teased the tiger.
In early 2008, the main investigator said the men might have bothered Tatiana. However, no charges were filed against them for this. Teasing a zoo animal is a minor offense in San Francisco.
Safety Changes at the Zoo
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On February 16, 2008, the zoo opened the tiger exhibit again. It had been greatly improved. The concrete moat wall was made taller, reaching 16 feet 4 inches from the bottom of the moat. Glass fencing was added to the top of the wall, making it 19 feet high. An electric "hotwire" was also put in place.
The zoo also added speakers to remind visitors to leave when the zoo closed at 5 p.m. New "Protect the Animals" signs were put up. These signs tell visitors:
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 out to them.
After the Incidents
In 2009, the Dhaliwal brothers reached an agreement with the zoo. Carlos Sousa's parents also settled their case with the zoo.
Four police officers were honored for their bravery during the incident. Their names were Scott Biggs, Yukio Oshita, Kevin O'Leary, and Daniel Kroos.
On December 25, 2008, a life-size sculpture of Tatiana was revealed. It was made of concrete and tile by Jon Engdahl. It is located in a community garden in San Francisco.
