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Updated: 2:01 PM Nov 18, 2008
911 Call for Tiger Bite
Luray, Va. The Page County Sheriff's Office has released the 911 tape from Sunday's attack. Posted: 6:13 PM Nov 17, 2008Reporter: Michael Hyland Email Address: mhyland@whsv.com |
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9 Comments
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This was an unfortunate accident on the young employee's fault. I just hope the parents are understanding enough to realize this was not an aggressive attack on the girl. Tigers are very powerful and Star could have pulled the girl's arm in, and having not done so, shows the animal wasn't trying to attack the girl. Considering the facility is a rescue zoo, I would assume that Star was hand raised on a bottle before she came to Luray Zoo, so she may have even sucked on fingers as a kitten. Star doesn't necessarily; realize how powerful she is compared to us. I wish everyone would give the Luray Zoo a break about this issue.
A tiger is a wild species...and for it to be said it was "just playing"...hello the girl lost her finger, if it was playing it would not have bit down enough to take her finger...something set if off. She may love pets and thats great; but a little too young to mess with such big wild animals, but I don't blame her nor the animal...BUT it is one of the wild, don't ever know what to expect. Even a pet dog or cat can turn for some reason, if it feels threatened by any chance it may react in it own defense. The thing is now that it attacked it may do it again; its a situation you don't know what is best to do about the tiger. I'm not an expert on the wild but maybe turn it back to the wild where the others roam. But I do hope the young girl is recovering okay.
I also worked at the Luray Zoo for more than 3 years, and I know the 16 year old girl who got bit. I was on staff when Star (the tiger) came to the zoo, and she is very well cared for, and loved by everyone involved with Luray Zoo. As far as I'm concerned, there is no one that can be blamed in this incident: neither the tiger, the caretaker, nor the tourist who tried to help. A tiger, even though she has been raised in captivity, will always retain the qualities that they would use in the wild. Some times things just happen at the wrong place and time. My prayers go out to everyone involved in this situation, but no blame should be placed on anyone, especially not the caretaker, the tiger, or the Luray Zoo. The Luray Zoo is an exceptional rescue zoo, and, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best run facilites that I have ever encountered.
umm lets see the tiger is a wild animal but u should never put an animal down for this if you are thinking about it its not the tiger its the tourist fought because it says on the cage dont taunt the tiger and thats what the tourist do i been there a couple a times and the girl was at the place at the wrong time its not the tiger fought its the tourist fought.
To those of you who left the comments I am the sister of the 16 year old girl who got bit and also an employee at the luray zoo for 5 years now. The zoo is a wonderful place and this is risk that we take as animal lovers. This is our passion and it is sad that it happened but we love the zoo very much and nothing well change that. And so those who think she may not have enough knowledge. We gaing exceptional knowledge there and it was a fluke of what happened it could happen with any type of animal.
I have to say that this doesn't seem news worthy. Sad for the staffer-but news worthy, nope. I have been to the zoo a number of times-they have signs up saying do not run taunt or tease the tiger. I respect that-I have taken my toddler out of the zoo when he would not settle down near her enclosure. She is not a pet-she is a rescued animal as are nearly all the animals there. This zoo does great work and I hope that the staffer makes a full recovery and realizes that the tiger is reacting to things in the way a tiger does-we are the thinking part of the equation and have to use good judgement when interacting with these animals. What you do 99 times in the past may not be a good choice on a different day and different circumstances-you should not take any interaction lightly.
Oh was this necessary news?
Let us not blame the girl. There was possibly a tourist that set the tiger off.
Let's not forget, that this tiger is still a wild animal, and still has all of his instincts that nature provided. You also have to know how to handle these wild animals, and to me, it doesn't sound like a 16 year old has alot of experience in doing this.