Jan 03 2009
San Francisco Sues Victim Of Tiger Attack
Tatiana the Siberian Tiger - Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.com
It was Christmas day 2007, when around 5:00 p.m. the sirens began blaring and continued for what seemed like at least a half hour. I live near the zoo and although I didn’t know what was happening at the time I knew something horrible was taking place.
It was reported on the local news shortly after 5:00 p.m. that there was a breaking story at the zoo whereby a tiger or a couple of tigers had escaped and killed a patron. Of course it was a breaking story so the facts were jumbled and all anyone could think of was that here is this tiger who escaped who could very well be loose in the streets. It was scary.
Later that night the true facts began emerging and the preliminary story was that three teenage boys, who had been drinking and smoking marijuana were at the tiger grotto with slingshots (though this has yet to be proven) and were climbing over the fence taunting Tatiana (picture above) the tiger. The tiger allegedly jumped the moat, over the fence and attacked and killed one of the teenagers and then chased the other two to the zoo cafe following a blood trail. By that time the police, fire and paramedics were at the entrance to the zoo trying to get in however for safety issues they were not immediately allowed entrance to the zoo. Long story short when they were finally allowed inside the police witnessed Tatiana mauling one of the teenagers when the tiger turned towards the officers and was then shot dead.
Carlos Sousa Jr. was killed by the tiger and the Dhaliwal brothers were injured. One having deep cuts and bite wounds to his neck, head and knees. He had to have several surgeries to repair his knee.
The Dhaliwal family filed a lawsuit one day prior to the year anniversary of the attack. They are suing San Francisco, the zoo, the police department and the public relations firm that the zoo hired after the attacks. Their attorney, the infamous Mark Geragos is handling their case. Their lawsuit states that the tiger enclosure was not up to National standards which resulted in the 250 pound Tatiana escaping her grotto.
The bill for treating the injuries to Dhaliwal totaled $75,000.00 which they have not yet paid. As a result the city of San Francisco is suing the Dhaliwals for that same amount to be paid out of any award being made as a result of the Dhaliwal lawsuit.
Since the attacks the zoo has revamped not only the tiger enclosure but many of the other exhibits within the zoo. I have lived here all my life and never remember any animal escaping and injuring a patron of the zoo. There have been times when an animal has injured a zoo employee, in fact Tatiana the tiger months before this incident attacked her handler.
I guess we really will never know exactly what went on that Christmas day but be assured that the San Francisco Zoo is a safe and fun place to visit.
Stunning picture of Tatiana.
I wonder what’s going to happen with the lawsuits. I think the Zoo will be held liable. The boys almost certainly did something to provoke the tiger, but there is no way to prove it.
It’s sad that such a magnificiant animal had to be shot because of idiots like this and then the family members trying to profit from it. Frankly, a low fence that the tiger had never tried before until these morons inticed the tiger to jump and attack, the zoo should go after the other two with a hefty fine.
Unknown
it is sad what happened, like what you said, we could never tell what really caused the tiger to jump off the moat. i love going to the zoo too, but i try to respect the spaces of the animals.
msterri - You are probably right and I know that the guys provoked it but unfortunately with no cameras around it’s hard to prove.
unknown - you certainly have a point there.
betchai - I agree. I love the zoo too but it’s their territory.