Siegfried: Roy And I Will Be Back

Tiger tamer Siegfried Fischbacher says he is sure "Siegfried & Roy" will be able to perform again, telling a German newspaper Tuesday, "Our show will go on."

But officials at The Mirage hotel in Las Vegas said the show is closed indefinitely. Its 267 employees have been told to look for new jobs.

Partner Roy Horn was attacked by a 600-pound Royal White tiger Friday before a crowd of 1,500 at The Mirage. He was alone onstage with the animal when it latched onto his arm.

Droves of people visit illusionist Roy Horn's makeshift shrine in front of The Mirage hotel-casino every day. So many have visited the "Siegfried & Roy" Web site that it has crashed.

Doctors hope Horn might be able to one day thank them.

Horn can communicate and move his feet and hands, Dr. Derek Duke said at University Medical Center where the "Siegfried & Roy" co-headliner was hospitalized following the mauling by one of the tigers in his show.

Horn, 59, is responding to treatment but remained in critical condition, the hospital said Wednesday. Doctors said Horn lost a large amount of blood in the attack and later had a stroke.

"A contributing factor to his current condition is his extraordinary will and strong physical attributes," Duke said Tuesday. "These are significant elements in his ability to recover."

The entertainer tried to free himself by tapping the tiger on the head with a microphone, but the animal lunged at his neck and then dragged him offstage.

Show workers set off fire extinguishers backstage to distract the tiger, which initially refused to release the performer. Horn underwent emergency surgery late Friday and had more surgery to relieve pressure on the brain.

Fischbacher told the German newspaper Bild that Horn was able to raise his hand in a 'V' for victory sign.

"He's the strongest person in the world. We'll get through this together," Fischbacher told the Bild. "I'm sure he'll recover completely. He's over the worst."

Bernie Yuman, the pair's longtime manager, also expressed optimism that Horn will recover and thanked fans worldwide for their support and concern.

"The outpouring of love and prayer both domestically as well as globally ... is very touching to us," Yuman said Tuesday.

Yuman said that Horn can communicate but would not answer questions about whether Horn can speak. "He understands the circumstances. He is totally aware that he is fighting for his life," Yuman said.

Meanwhile, a representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the agency is looking into the attack but would not comment on the investigation.

The tiger remains quarantined.