Zoo Goers Watch Tiger Maul Trainer

(AP)  The San Francisco Zoo has closed its Lion House, an exhibit where the public can watch the big cats eat a meal, while officials investigate the mauling of a keeper by a Siberian tiger.

The woman, who has worked at the zoo since 1997, was rushed into surgery Friday night to save her lacerated limb. Her family requested that her identity and condition not be released, zoo and San Francisco General Hospital officials said.

The attack happened during a regular Friday afternoon public feeding, during which keepers typically deliver a meal of fortified horse meat through a small metal slot. At least 50 visitors were in the Lion House when the 350-pound tiger, Tatiana, reached through her cage's iron bars and grabbed the keeper.

Tyler Bridges and his 4-year-old daughter were in the Lion House and had just finished chatting with the keeper when the attack occurred as they were walking away.

"She had just said, 'We feed them rabbits every Tuesday and Friday.' Fifteen seconds later, I hear her screaming," Bridges told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I see her with her back to us, facing the cage. Both of her hands were in front of her. Then somebody tried to pull her away from the tiger."

Bridges, 46, said it was his daughter's first visit to San Francisco Zoo.

"I picked up my daughter — she was very traumatized," Bridges said. "Some visitors were running out, zoo workers were running in. While we were heading out, I could still hear her screaming."

While the Lion House is closed for the investigation, the public will be able to see the zoo's four lions and three tigers in the outdoor area of the exhibit, spokesman Paul Garcia said Saturday. The building will reopen when zoo officials think it is appropriate, he said.

Tatiana arrived at the San Francisco Zoo from the Denver Zoo about a year ago, with zoo officials hoping she would mate with a 14-year-old male tiger. Tatiana has had no previous incidents of aggression against humans, said Ana Bowie, a Denver Zoo spokeswoman.

The mauling was the first attack of its kind during a demonstration at the San Francisco Zoo's Lion House, Garcia said.

[cjs4870]

In reply to asor1's comment about failing to see the comparison between a wild animal caged up & my wife...well, let's leave my bedroom antics out of this. All joking aside, I will agree wild animals shouldn't be caged for the amusement & profit of others. But if you couldn't see the amusement in my comment on the article, may I suggest a job for you as a zoo keeper? I hear there may be an opening in San Fran feeding tigers.

[asor1-2009]

Is CJS4870 suggesting that this tiger was aware of the day-of-the-week?
Was CJS4870's wife brought to him to mate therefore he treats her to filet mignon?
I fail to see the comparison between a wild animal caged up for mankinds amusement and his wife.

[boyntonbe]

Agree caging is bad BUT--in the wild, the numbers are quickly dwindling - including tigers. I think I heard recently on Am Planet or somewhere the number in captivity (public and private zoos) rivals the number in the wild. Meaning, as the wild numbers decline, the only place they may survive is in captivity. How about better kept psuedo-natural habitats like Lion County Safari in Florida - ??

[kailumego1]

Well put asor1, wild animals shouldn%u2019t have their lives usurped for someone else self-aggrandizement, I see the movie "Predator", which had a very symbolic meaning, has had little impact on the way we view non-humans, because what if the situation had been in reverse, and we were the hunted, instead of the hunters.

I am totally against caging wild animals they need to be left alone in their natural habitats, as these incidents should have been a wake up call to the higher-brained humans, to wild animals need to stay in the wild.

They are wild animals. You will always have a risk when you feed them, unless you clear the area first.

[bige0063]

For Liberals, Government Workders and Unition Members, the answer to a problem is always: "we are understaffed and need to add more people."

Wake Up- Have we lost all sense of "self-responsibility and common sense?"

[cjs4870]

Don't get me worng, I feel bad for the zoo keeper being mauled by Tatiana, but am I the only one who read this article? It clearly says she was feeding Tatiana horse meat. She had just finiahed saying "We feed them rabbits every Tuesday & Friday". This must be a special meal for the tigers. The attack happened Friday, 12/22. Why was Tatiana getting horse meat? Has anyone else beside me ever looked forward to a special meal, only to have a waiter give you the wrong meal? Did you eat it, or complain & send it back? I feel Tatiana was only complaing to her waiter in the only way she knew how. She was brought there to mate. Treat her like a special lady. If I brought my wife out for a filet mignon & she got a hamburger, I know she'd complain. Can anyone else say PMS?

[asor1-2009]

Maybe this points out, once again, that wild animals belong in the wild!

[vcfisher]

In this age of Medicine,I sincerely hope and pray
that the Zoo Lady will be in good hands and able to go back to work.Maybe 2 keepers in the future should feed the animals, One to give and One to watch the ANIMAL.

[gilrain3]

I wonder if the recent quakes in the area might have had something to do with the attack. I believe there was on Friday but don't know if it was near the time of the attack.