Big Cats: Escapes, Killings & Maulings

Legislator plans to re-introduce exotic animal bill

2008-08-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

Legislator plans to re-introduce exotic animal bill

By Mike Penprase August 6, 2008
MPENPRASE@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Two recent tiger attacks in Missouri could prompt stronger support for a bill tightening controls over dangerous exotic animals, the legislator who has led the effort for several years said Wednesday.

Rep. Michael Sutherland, R-Warrenton, said a bill he sponsored in the past and will sponsor again would regulate exotics as pets and provide more state oversight of facilities such as those in Warrenton and Branson West where people were injured by tigers on Sunday and Monday.

“They would have been able to operate, but they would have had to operate under some pretty strict guidelines under the state as far as identification of the animals, and definitely a lot more regulations on how the facilities were kept and the type of facilities the animals were kept in, so the public didn’t have to worry about safety issues,” he said.

He had hoped legislation toughening regulations on dangerous exotic animals would become law before anyone was injured or killed.

“Unfortunately, it looks like we’ve waited too long, and we’ll have to be reactive,” Sutherland said in the aftermath of Monday’s attack on 16-year-old Dakoda Wood-Ramel at the Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium and a tiger attack Sunday at the Wesa-A-Geh-Yah center in Warrenton.

Wood-Ramel remains in critical condition in Cox South Hospital, while Warrenton sanctuary volunteer Jacob Barr lost his leg below one knee.

Wesa-A-Geh-Yah’s owner said Wednesday the facility has closed and the animals will be sent to other sanctuaries.

Closed Monday after Wood-Ramel was injured, the Branson West attraction re-opened Tuesday.

The only statewide regulation on dangerous exotic animals requires owners to register their animals with county sheriffs, Sutherland said, but he added sheriffs have more than enough to do to without having to check on the presence of big cats and other exotics.

Sutherland’s bill would increase penalties for not registering an animal in a bill covering a Noah’s Ark of animals, ranging from tigers and bears to other carnivores such as jaguars, mountain lions, ocelots, cheetahs, hyenas and wolves. The bill also covers non-human primates and dangerous or poisonous reptiles.

The bill also calls for sheriffs to maintain a registry of animals to inform the public and for use during emergencies. It would exempt traveling circuses, research facilities and educational institutions, research laboratories, veterinarians and zoos that are accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums from having to register their animals.

The Branson West business is not an AZA member and has never applied for membership, an AZA spokesman said.

Owners of animals would not be allowed to take them onto public property and people who don’t own the animals or work as keepers would not be allowed to handle them.

While other legislators offered bills tightening control of exotics in Missouri, Sutherland said he’s been at the effort the longest, starting in 2003 after he was elected to the General Assembly.

Constituents at the first town hall meeting he held voiced concern about the Warrenton exotic animal facility, Sutherland said.

Although early efforts didn’t make it past the hearing stage, a companion bill introduced by Sen. Tom Dempsey in the last session gave the bill more support, Sutherland said.

“Probably in light of the current situation, it will probably push from both sides, the House and the Senate, next year,” he said. “I think there will be a lot more interest.”

Few other state regulations apply to such facilities.

The Missouri Department of Conservation requires people in possession of wildlife native to Missouri to register with the department, but Conservation has no oversight of non-native exotics, department spokesman Jim Low said.

And other than a regulation requiring that animal carcasses be disposed of properly, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has no regulations on dangerous exotics, state Veterinarian Dr. Taylor Wood said.

Sutherland said only the U.S. Department of Agriculture has any oversight over exotic animals through its inspections of facilities that have the animals.

But the fact that the Warrenton refuge continued to operate after the USDA revoked its license is an indication the agency has little clout, Sutherland said.

The USDA is taking complaints about the Branson West facility seriously, agency spokeswoman Brie German said.

“At this time, we’re looking into the incident,” she said.

German would not confirm if USDA inspectors had visited the attraction. Commenting further would compromise the agency’s examination of the incident, she said.

On Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked the USDA to investigate and consider revoking Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium’s license.

PETA cited several incidents to take that action, including the injury of a zoo volunteer by a black panther in 2003 and the escape of three wolves in 2007.

The Humane Society of the United States wants Missouri to ban private ownership of tigers and other dangerous wild animals, but considers Sutherland’s proposal encouraging, HUSA director of the exotic pets campaign Beth Preiss said.

“I would say legislation like that would be a step in the right direction,” she said.

Missouri lawmakers need to act soon because several nearby states including Kansas have enacted bans, and Missouri could become a dumping ground for exotic animals, she said.

Rep. Dennis Woods, R-Kimberling City, said Missouri needs to control private ownership of dangerous exotic animals, but he would oppose regulations that would affect the Branson West animal attraction.

Wood said he would support a ban on keeping large cats and other dangerous exotic animals as private pets, but not legislation that would threaten the Branson West attraction.

Wood said he has been to the Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium and knows the people who run it.

“This zoo in my district is the only opportunity my local kids have for that kind of exposure,” he said. “I want to be real careful we provide every protection there can be without the elimination of this exposure for the kids and people who might not ever have an opportunity to see a wild animal.”

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880806042

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

2 tiger attacks show tougher laws needed

2008-08-06T09:14:00.001-07:00

By BETSY TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer 19 minutes ago

ST. LOUIS - Two tiger attacks this week at two different Missouri animal facilities that had both been cited for past problems have law enforcement officials calling for tougher exotic animal laws.

On Monday, a 16-year-old worker entered a tiger pen at the Predator World attraction in southwest Missouri to take pictures for a visitor and was attacked by three of the big cats. The boy, Dakoda Ramel, remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Springfield hospital. There was no immediate response to a call seeking an update on his condition Wednesday.

Just the day before, a separate tiger attack in eastern Missouri cost a 26-year-old volunteer part of his leg. Jacob Barr's leg below the knee was amputated after he was attacked by a tiger Sunday at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya animal facility in Warrenton. Barr faced more surgery Wednesday at a St. Louis hospital.

Federal officials have pointed to problems at both facilities. A 2007 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection at Predator World noted three instances of animals getting out of their pens: two wolves that escaped into the community; a grizzly bear that remained on the property but was able to kill a tiger; and a fox that was hit by a car.

The Wesa-A-Geh-Ya facility, which used to have a license to exhibit its animals through the USDA, surrendered that license in 2003 and then had it revoked after a number of violations involving animal care were alleged.

Critics say a patchwork of laws means no single agency in the state or nation is responsible for law enforcement and inspections related to exotic animals like large carnivores. One of the tiger owners, while deeply upset by the tiger attack, said she thinks existing regulations contributed to the problem.

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said he'd like the state to improve exotic animal laws, but in recent weeks he proposed changes at the county level.

"I think it's such a politically charged topic: What do you do with these exotic animals?" he said.

Both Harrison and Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill, where the other tiger attack took place, said in Missouri owners are supposed to register their exotic animals with their sheriff's department. But they said the law doesn't specify how soon after possessing an animal someone must register. The law also lacks requirements for proper enclosures, or how often the registration needs to be updated.

The Missouri Department of Conservation visits Wesa-A-Geh-Ya at least annually to check on animal species that are native to the state, like mountain lions, wolves and a bear — though the wolves at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya are Arctic wolves.

"There's never been any problem with them mistreating the animals or problems with the enclosures," said Dan Zarlenga, a spokesman for the Department of Conservation.

But the agency does not inspect animals not native to Missouri, like the tigers.

Sandra Smith, one of the owners of Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, said existing regulations are confusing and problematic. She said she had wanted to make cages more secure but was told she couldn't without a local permit.

"If there's going to be more regulations, put someone on the job who knows what they're doing," she said.

Smith said she's getting out of animal care altogether. She said she's started looking for new homes for the 49 animals on her property.

Harrison said Wesa-A-Geh-Ya owners needed to take responsibility for the tiger attack, saying they were the ones who decided to house wild animals on the site behind chain-link fences.

Predator World did not respond to requests for comment.

The USDA report on Predator World, provided to The Associated Press by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, notes that two of the previous animal incidents at the facility occurred during storms.

The fox escaped after a tree fell on its enclosure during an ice storm. The bear also escaped from its enclosure when a tree limb fell after a storm "allowing it to enter the enjoining enclosure and kill an adult female tiger."

Hill said that if exotic animal owners don't register the creatures, authorities will not have accurate, updated information about what potentially dangerous animals are residing in their counties during severe weather.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects one victim's name to Dakoda sted Dakota, no update available on his condition, UPDATES with second victim facing more surgery.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080806/ap_on_re_us/tiger_attack

--
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

UPDATE: Wesa-A-Geh-Ya to close (says owner)

2008-08-06T05:48:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: Wesa-A-Geh-Ya to close, owner says
Volunteer mauled Sunday has part of leg amputated

By Sarah Whitney
swhitney@yourjournal.com
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 3:03 PM CDT

Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, an exotic animal center in Warren County, was the site of a mauling Sunday. Owner Ken Smith told the Warren County Commission on Tuesday he plans to close the facility and send the animals to a sanctuary in Kentucky.

Wesa-A-Geh-Ya owner Ken Smith announced Tuesday his plans to close the exotic animal center located in Warren County.

The decision spurs from Sunday's tiger attack on volunteer Jacob Barr, the center's lack of funding and past and present legal problems, Smith said.

"The whole purpose is to give the animals a better life and make it easier on myself, my wife and my family. I've got too many opponents against us with the animals," Smith told members of the Warren County Commission. "I'm not a quitter, but these animals deserve better. Our funding is cut off."

Barr, 26, of Warrenton was assisting another volunteer at the center in moving the tiger, named Hercules, from his cage for cleaning purposes when the tiger jumped the fence and attacked Barr, Smith said.

Barr was taken by helicopter to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he underwent surgery.

Hospital officials said Tuesday that Barr had lost his leg below his knee, and was in fair condition.

When deputies with the Warren County Sheriff's Department first arrived at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya after the mauling, they were led to believe Barr was attacked by a stray black and white pit bull that had been scared off by gunfire, Sheriff Kevin Harrison said.

"That was the story," Harrison said. "The Smiths stuck to that story, as did the volunteers."

After leaving the wildlife center, Harrison received a tip from a friend of the victim's father, who said Barr was attacked by a tiger, which Smith had shot multiple times, killing it, and then put the body in a truck and transported it to a family member's house in New Truxton, Harrison said.

After authorities returned to speak with Ken and Sandra Smith and volunteers about the new information, they acknowledged the incident was a tiger attack, Harrison said.

Ken Smith said the volunteers made up the pit bull attack story because they didn't want to get the animals in trouble.

"When the sheriff came back, that's when I told him," he said. "I'm the one who set the record straight."

The tiger's body then was voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff's department, which turned it over to the University of Missouri-Columbia veterinary school for an autopsy and to properly destroy the remains.

Smith said Tuesday the tiger that attacked Barr was Hercules — not Tony, as had been previously reported. Hercules had been rescued before living at the facility, Smith said.

But Dangerous Wild Animal Registration Forms filed with the sheriff's department list Tony and Hercules as cage mates and both being born at the facility.

Smith said if he had to kill every animal at the center to get the "young man's" leg back, he would.

"I was lucky we didn't lose anyone's life over it," he said.

Smith told commissioners all the exotic animals at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya and their cages will be sent to a sanctuary in Kentucky, where they will receive better care and more legal protection.

Harrison said Smith's decision, if followed through with, is in the best interest of the county and ultimately the more than 55 animals at the facility including tigers, lions, arctic wolves and a bear.

"I will commend them for turning over the care of these animals to a facility who has the ability to care for these animals," Harrison said. "Their intentions have always been honorable, but I think they lack the funding and the facility to adequately house and care for them."

Wesa-A-Geh-Ya has been the focus of legal dispute in the community for several years.

In 2004, the Smiths relinquished their U.S. Department of Agriculture license after the organization alleged the center did not have proper veterinary measures in place and did not employ properly trained staff. The move closed the center's doors to the public.

Ken Smith was found guilty in May of not properly registering more than 55 animals at the facility. The ruling also determined that the facility was not an animal sanctuary.

On Tuesday, Smith entered a plea of guilty to Circuit Court Judge Wesly Dalton for failing to properly maintain accurate records as a wildlife breeder with the Missouri Department of Conservation and was required to pay up to a $100 fine.

But during interviews Ken Smith has consistently maintained his innocence.

"I've been accused of being guilty before I got to court," he told commissioners. "I got Warrenton justice. I didn't get justice in that courtroom."

The Smiths have said that in the facility's 21 years of operation, an animal has never escaped from the grounds. The facility first existed as a breeder in 1987 and then as a not-for-profit in 1998.

Sandra Smith said Sunday's incident may have been prevented if the center were allowed to put in additional safety measures it requested, including a cover for the cages and a 12-foot chain-link fence surrounding the site's 3,000-square-foot perimeter.

The Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission did not allow these changes, she said.

"This incident could have been avoided if people would have let us do the improvements we wanted to do," she said. "For nine years now, we've been fighting and fighting. We've not broke any laws out here. Accidents happen. It shouldn't have happened."

Ken Smith added that as a caretaker of exotic animals, he can't wait 30 days for the zoning commission to make a decision on whether he can make a cage bigger.

"I have to react to what the animal is telling me right then," he said, otherwise someone gets hurt.

County officials including Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage and Planning and Zoning Coordinator Linda Gant told Smith Tuesday that nothing prohibited him from putting tops on existing cages.

Commissioners initially declined to comment, citing a pending investigation involving planning and zoning and the Smiths, but Engelage issued a prepared statement after Smith announced he would close the facility.

"After researching our records, back in 1995 they, the Smiths, were told if they wanted to do any improvements they would have to get a conditional-use permit," he said. "Since that time, we have no record of any conditional-use permit for cages or perimeter fences were ever asked for."

--
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

Tiger attacks highlight need for stronger exotic animal laws

2008-08-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

Tiger attacks highlight need for stronger exotic animal laws

Associated Press - August 5, 2008 8:14 PM ET

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Two tiger attacks in Missouri have law enforcement and animal agencies calling for tougher exotic animal laws.

They say a patchwork of laws means no one agency is responsible for inspections and enforcement related to exotic animals.

A 16-year-old worker entered a tiger pen at the Predator World attraction in Branson West yesterday to take pictures for a visitor and was attacked. The teen, Dakota Ramel (RAM' ehl), remains in critical condition at a Springfield hospital.

In a separate incident, a 26-year-old volunteer, Jacob Barr, had part of his leg amputated after he was attacked by a tiger Sunday at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya (WAY'-suh ah GEE'-yah) animal facility in Warren County. He is in satisfactory condition at a St. Louis hospital.

Investigations continue. No one has been charged in either instance.

http://www.koamtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8794679

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Calls to 911 reveal panic at animal park; staff says tigers didn't attack

2008-08-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Calls to 911 reveal panic at animal park; staff says tigers didn't attack

by Abby Wuellner, KY3 News
Story Published: Aug 5, 2008 at 3:43 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 5, 2008 at 7:02 PM CDT

By Gene Hartley

Video

To read a statement from the park on Tuesday, click here.

To hear the 911 tape, click here.

BRANSON WEST, Mo. -- Investigators from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture were at the Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium on Tuesday. They’re investigating what the Stone County sheriff says was a tiger attack on a teenager on Monday afternoon.

The victim, Dakoda Ramel, 16, remained in critical condition on Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in Springfield. Employees at the animal park, which used to be called Predator World, spoke out about the case and said they’ve learned more about what happened from witnesses.

A Stone County 911 emergency center tape reveals the sense of panic at the park in the moments after the accident took place.

"What's going on?” a call-taker asked.

“We have a tiger attack and a bad one!" said a caller.

In the hectic moments after a tiger bit Dakoda’s leg, neck and face, no one could tell exactly what happened.

“He’s not bleeding. He’s just, just deep, deep lacerations,” said the caller. “He is not conscious that we can tell.”

Later, someone at the park said he was breathing.

“Yeah, he’s breathing lightly, yeah, shallow breathing,” the caller said.

The owner of Branson interactive Zoo and Aquarium, Breck Wakefield, hasn't consented to an interview. He said in a news release on Tuesday that an eyewitness account is helping the staff put the pieces together.

"He entered the enclosure on his own to take pictures for a customer,” Sharon Sargent, a biologist at the animal park, said in an interview outside the park office on Tuesday. "The only people who saw it stated he fell and the cats had not attacked."

That's the point at which the tiger approached, Wakefield’s news release says, after the fall knocked the teen unconscious. After that, the news release says, “a female tiger approached, grabbed him by the neck and dragged him to what she would have felt was safety . . . Contrary to reports, she was not holding him in water but was rather holding his head above water by his neck. Dakoda never moved or made a sound.

"While there is no doubt being dragged by a 300-pound animal with 2-inch canines contributed to his injuries greatly, thee is also no doubt he would have not survived an aggressive attack involving his neck. Also, only one cat was ever involved."

Shortly thereafter, staff members used carbon dioxide canisters to ward off the animals and remove the boy.

"We have two puncture wounds on the neck, one big one on the leg, a big gash on the leg. It’s not bleeding from the leg. His neck is bleeding,” a caller says on the 911 tape.

That's the condition in which he was airlifted to Springfield, where he remains in critical condition.

"At this time, we believe this to have been a tragic accident,” said Sargent.

What exactly led up to the accident remains unclear. In a news release on Tuesday, the park said Dakoda was violating the park’s policy by being in the tiger cage.

Those who saw it say Dakoda went into the pen to take a picture for a tourist. Why he did it will remain the unknown until Dakoda can speak for himself.

"Once he can talk to us, if he was doing something wrong, he'll admit it,” said Sargent.

The other detail that remains unclear to some is whether this tiger actually "attacked." Wakefield’s news release says Dakoda was an intern at the park. Sargent said he’s been around these animals since they were a couple days old.

Wakefield’s news release says the people at the park don't think the tiger was trying to attack; if that had been the case, the tiger would have killed him. That contradicts the person who called 911 and told the call-taker that the tigers were attacking Dakoda.

The staff isn’t doing anything to isolate the tigers from visitors. They say this was an incident that happened in a tiger pen, and they don't believe anyone is at risk, provided protocol is being followed.

Wakefield’s news release says the park closed immediately after the attack and the staff asked visitors to leave before going to the hospital in Springfield. That contradicts interviews that a reporter did with visitors on Monday who said they weren’t asked to leave. Sheriff Richard Hill also said the park remained open except for the tiger exhibit.

The news release praised other staff members for moving quickly to help Dakoda and keep the tigers away from him by "acting bravely and without regard for themselves, not being sure if this was a full attack or not."

The park says it was a "tragic accident and we are not considering at this time to put down the cats as Dakoda's family has made it clear this is not what he would have wanted."

Also Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to ask for an investigation of the incident and the revocation of Branson Interactive Zoo and Aquarium's license to keep wild animals. The letter to the USDA came from PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Va.

PETA said the park, formerly known as Predator World, has a history of "dangerous incidents." It said a black leopard bit an 18-year-old volunteer on the arm on Nov. 20, 2004; two wolves escaped on Feb. 15, 2007, with after which one was shot and killed after being free for two months and the other was never found; and escapes of a fox and a grizzly bear. PETA said Predator World was fined $2,000 in 2003.

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/26292324.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Tiger Attacks Teenager at Predator World

2008-08-04T18:01:00.001-07:00

16 year old boy mauled at Predator World in Branson, MO.

News station video

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/26248954.html?video=YHI&t=a

Channel 10 news station, a little different coverage:

Teen Attacked by Tigers at Exotic Animal Attraction

Reported by: Kate Stacy

Monday, Aug 4, 2008 @05:47pm CST

A 16-year-old boy is in the hospital after an attack at an interactive zoo and aquarium in Branson West. Rescue crews say it happened just before 1:00 p.m. Monday afternoon at Predator World.

A lot of people remember Predator World from last year, when some wolves escaped. No one was injured in that incident, but what this park is know for is its interactions with impressive animals like sharks, tigers and alligators.

A 16-year-old employee entered the tiger exhibit to take some photos for guests. Witnesses tell rescuers the teen was knocked to the ground.

That's when they say two other tigers joined in, dragging the teen to the water pool. The boy was eventually rescued and flown to Cox South with injuries to his head and neck.

The park remains closed, as many of the workers are at the hospital with that employee.

Meantime, another staff member tells KOLR/KSFX the teen is responsive. They say he was trained to work with the animals. In fact, the park publicizes that interaction, saying it keeps animals happy, healthy and friendly.

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=43601

Channel 33 news station

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/26253464.html

BREAKING NEWS:Tiger Attacks Teenager at Predator World

By Brad Belote

Story Created: Aug 4, 2008

Story Updated: Aug 4, 2008

A tiger attacked a teenager at Predator World in Branson West Monday.

The Stone County Sheriff says a tiger jumped on the teen as he taking a picture of the animal.

The sheriff says the 16-year-old employee went into the tiger cage to take a picture for a customer. While in the pen with the tigers, one
of the tigers jumped on the victim and knocked him to the ground. At that point, two other tigers joined in the attack and drug the victim to a water pool.

The teenager was flown to Cox South in Springfield. He received injuries to his neck and head.

Tiger attacks volunteer at area animal farm

2008-08-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

Tiger attacks volunteer at area animal farm

By Michele Munz

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

08/04/2008

WARRENTON — A volunteer was attacked by a tiger Sunday at an animal farm in Warren County that has been the subject of abuse and neglect allegations. Owners of the farm shot and killed the tiger.

The 26-year-old victim underwent surgery to his lower leg and will recover, said farm owner Sandra Smith. She was distraught during an interview and could remember only that the victim's name is Jacob and he lives in the Warrenton area.

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison could not be reached.

Initially, the victim and another volunteer who witnessed the attack told authorities he was attacked by a dog, Smith said. "We went along with it, but it wasn't planned out," she said. "They were scared ... We were all scared."

She said she told the Sheriff's Department what really happened after the victim was taken by helicopter to a hospital.

Smith, 58, and her husband, Ken Smith, own the farm, known as Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, about 10 miles northwest of Warrenton. She said they initially lied because they feared the approximately 60 animals — mostly tigers but also including lions, wolves, a bear and a leopard — would be taken and euthanized.

"And I'm going to let them do it, because I can't take it anymore," Sandra Smith said.

She said Jacob and another volunteer were trying to coax the tiger into a smaller cage so they could clean its main cage. Jacob was standing on top of the smaller cage when the tiger scaled a 12 to 14-foot chain-link fence of the main cage and got hold of Jacob.

The other volunteer shouted for Sandra Smith, who ran out with her gun and distracted the tiger. The tiger leaped at her, and she shot and wounded it, she said. Ken Smith arrived and shot the animal again, killing it.

"I've been here 20 years, and I've never had to shoot an animal," Sandra Smith said. "I've never had anybody hurt."

The Smiths started collecting wildlife before moving to Missouri in the mid-1980s with a tiger and two cougars. They soon established Wesa-A-Geh-Yah, which translates as "cat lady" in Sandra Smith's native Cherokee language. Owning exotic animals is legal in Missouri, as long as they are registered with local police.

About four years ago, the USDA filed allegations against the Smiths that included not providing proper veterinary treatment and lacking adequately trained employees. The Smiths gave up their exhibitor license, fearing that the animals would be confiscated. That took the animals off display and took a chunk out of their budget.

In 2003, Sandra Smith received probation for failing to keep the cages properly locked. This past May, Ken Smith was placed on probation for failing to register some animals.

"I'm so damn tired of people out there thinking I'm doing bad things," Sandra Smith said. "We're not bad people, we're just trying to give these animals some kind of quality life."

The tiger she shot was named Tony, Sandra Smith said. As is often the case, he was dumped on her doorstep about eight years ago.

mmunz@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8263

Carole's letter to Michele,

Dear Michele,

Wesa-A-Geh-Ya is no sanctuary. The US Fish & Wildlife service specifically states that accredited sanctuaries do NOT breed. As someone who has been involved with saving big cats for the past twenty years, I can assure you that there are no legitimate breeding and release programs for big cats and never will be because there isn't habitat for them to survive and raising and releasing captive born cats isn't possible without tremendous danger to the public.

Wasn't this facility part of Operation Snow Plow? Tim Santel, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's law enforcement office in Springfield, Ill., was named Officer of the Year in 2004 for his lengthy undercover investigation of the illegal killing of endangered species, specifically tigers, leopards, snow leopards and the commercialization of their meat, hides and other body parts. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Snow Plow," lasted more than six years, covered more than six states and resulted in the conviction of all 17 defendants (16 individuals and one business) charged with violating several federal wildlife protection laws. Combined, the defendants' sentences have resulted in 80 months in federal prison, 52 months home detention, 2,200 hours of community service, $75,000 in fines and $226,000 in restitution to the Fish and Wildlife Federation's Save the Tiger Fund. One of the convictions was that of a well-known "sanctuary" in MO that was selling their "rescued" lions to be served in restaurants.

The questions I would really like to see exposed are the following:

Why is is that "sanctuaries" and those who profess to "love" the big cats are so violently opposed to legislation that would end the private trade in them as pets and collectibles? My goal is that places like Big Cat Rescue no longer need to exist and my path to that goal is by asking for legislation that bans the breeding, sale, trade and collecting of these great cats. As a result, I may be the most hated person in the big cat "industry" and yet most of the people who spend so much time trying to discredit me with their lies and insinuations claim to be in the rescue and sanctuary business. Why isn't ending the abuse the most important goal of those who claim to be saving big cats from abuse?

Why are big cats being born in sanctuaries when there isn't enough sanctuary space for all of the unwanted big cats?

Why is contact with big cats allowed when a bill in Congress has died last year and stalled this year that would prevent it? (HR 1947 Haley's Act)

Where do all of the babies from last year go? When you look around at all of the places who advertise baby lions and tigers, where do they all go for the next 20 years?

More here:

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000news/0articlesbybcr/2008ManEatingLions.htm

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000news/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm

It costs Big Cat Rescue between $5,000 and $7,500 per year to provide proper care for a big cat. Multiply that by the number of big cats in these pseudo sanctuaries and roadside zoos and then compare it to their annual budgets.

Lack of accountability. Most of these places hide behind their USDA licenses as if it were a badge of honor, but if you visit the abusers page on www.911AnimalAbuse.com you will see a repeating pattern of facilities having USDA violations reported year after year, for six years in some cases, before the USDA takes action. Meanwhile the USDA keeps renewing their licenses. Why does USDA renew licenses each year of facilities that have failed to meet even the more minimal of standards? To give you an idea of how low the standards are, the size of cage for a tiger only has to be big enough for the cat to stand up and turn around.

What does it cost the tax payer? When less than 1/10th of one percent of the public owns exotic animals, why do tax dollars fund entire governmental departments to regulate an industry that is unneeded and inhumane? What are the actual costs to tax payers for all of the reporting, licensing, enforcement and the clean up costs after these places allow escapes or they go belly up?

62% of the people polled say that seeing big cats in cages has done nothing to cause them to donate to conservation in the wild. Almost all of the places that use big cats for income will cite that noble cause as their excuse, and yet how much of the money they raise is actually put to work in saving the habitats?

The tiger is the best example of how this doesn't ring true. No big cat is more commonly kept in zoos and back yard menageries and yet with less than 4,000 left in the wild and one being poached per day, it is obvious that this great cat will disappear in the next few years. All of the cats who were born in cages for the last hundred years did nothing to stop the onslaught. I believe that the practice of keeping cats in cages has actually led to their demise in the wild. If you can have the convenience of driving a few miles to see a tiger in a cage, then why protect them half a world away where you may never see them?

--
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

Man Mauled at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya

2008-08-04T09:29:00.001-07:00

KSDK -- Authorities in Warren County, Missouri are investigating an animal attack at the Wesa-A-Geh-Ya Animal Facility.

Shortly before noon, police were called to the facility located on Highway A after a report of a man being mauled by a tiger.

The victim suffered serious injuries to his leg and was airlifted to Barnes Hospital by Arch Air Medical.

The condition of the victim is not being released. Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the incident remains under investigation.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=151346

Carole's letter to reporter newstips@ksdk.com

Wesa-A-Geh-Ya is no sanctuary. The US Fish & Wildlife service specifically states that accredited sanctuaries do NOT breed. As someone who has been involved with saving big cats for the past twenty years, I can assure you that there are no legitimate breeding and release programs for big cats and never will be because there isn't habitat for them to survive and raising and releasing captive born cats isn't possible without tremendous danger to the public.

Wasn't this facility part of Operation Snow Plow? Tim Santel, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's law enforcement office in Springfield, Ill., was named Officer of the Year in 2004 for his lengthy undercover investigation of the illegal killing of endangered species, specifically tigers, leopards, snow leopards and the commercialization of their meat, hides and other body parts. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Snow Plow," lasted more than six years, covered more than six states and resulted in the conviction of all 17 defendants (16 individuals and one business) charged with violating several federal wildlife protection laws. Combined, the defendants' sentences have resulted in 80 months in federal prison, 52 months home detention, 2,200 hours of community service, $75,000 in fines and $226,000 in restitution to the Fish and Wildlife Federation's Save the Tiger Fund. One of the convictions was that of a well-known "sanctuary" in MO that was selling their "rescued" lions to be served in restaurants.

The questions I would really like to see exposed are the following:

Why is is that "sanctuaries" and those who profess to "love" the big cats are so violently opposed to legislation that would end the private trade in them as pets and collectibles? My goal is that places like Big Cat Rescue no longer need to exist and my path to that goal is by asking for legislation that bans the breeding, sale, trade and collecting of these great cats. As a result, I may be the most hated person in the big cat "industry" and yet most of the people who spend so much time trying to discredit me with their lies and insinuations claim to be in the rescue and sanctuary business. Why isn't ending the abuse the most important goal of those who claim to be saving big cats from abuse?

Why are big cats being born in sanctuaries when there isn't enough sanctuary space for all of the unwanted big cats?

Why is contact with big cats allowed when a bill in Congress has died last year and stalled this year that would prevent it? (HR 1947 Haley's Act)

Where do all of the babies from last year go? When you look around at all of the places who advertise baby lions and tigers, where do they all go for the next 20 years?

More here:

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000news/0articlesbybcr/2008ManEatingLions.htm

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/000news/0articlesbybcr/2008DyingToBeHeld.htm

It costs Big Cat Rescue between $5,000 and $7,500 per year to provide proper care for a big cat. Multiply that by the number of big cats in these pseudo sanctuaries and roadside zoos and then compare it to their annual budgets.

Lack of accountability. Most of these places hide behind their USDA licenses as if it were a badge of honor, but if you visit the abusers page on www.911AnimalAbuse.com you will see a repeating pattern of facilities having USDA violations reported year after year, for six years in some cases, before the USDA takes action. Meanwhile the USDA keeps renewing their licenses. Why does USDA renew licenses each year of facilities that have failed to meet even the more minimal of standards? To give you an idea of how low the standards are, the size of cage for a tiger only has to be big enough for the cat to stand up and turn around.

What does it cost the tax payer? When less than 1/10th of one percent of the public owns exotic animals, why do tax dollars fund entire governmental departments to regulate an industry that is unneeded and inhumane? What are the actual costs to tax payers for all of the reporting, licensing, enforcement and the clean up costs after these places allow escapes or they go belly up?

62% of the people polled say that seeing big cats in cages has done nothing to cause them to donate to conservation in the wild. Almost all of the places that use big cats for income will cite that noble cause as their excuse, and yet how much of the money they raise is actually put to work in saving the habitats?

The tiger is the best example of how this doesn't ring true. No big cat is more commonly kept in zoos and back yard menageries and yet with less than 4,000 left in the wild and one being poached per day, it is obvious that this great cat will disappear in the next few years. All of the cats who were born in cages for the last hundred years did nothing to stop the onslaught. I believe that the practice of keeping cats in cages has actually led to their demise in the wild. If you can have the convenience of driving a few miles to see a tiger in a cage, then why protect them half a world away where you may never see them?
--
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

'Maneater' triggers panic in West Champaran district

2008-07-30T00:43:00.001-07:00

'Maneater' triggers panic in West Champaran district

29 Jul 2008, 0300 hrs IST, Arun Kumar David,TNN

BETTIAH: The recent death of a person at the hands of a man-eating tiger has unleashed a reign of terror among people living on the fringes of the Valmikinagar Tiger Project in West Champaran. Villagers claim there is a man-eater on the project premises who kills villagers.

However, the chief conservator of forests, West Champaran, Bharat Jyoti said there was no man-eater within the the project precincts, adding that although there have been regular encounters between the two species, but there has been no news of tiger devouring any human.

"The tiger's attack may be out of aggressive behaviour or insecurity on its part. It is when people interfere with its style of living or someone going into its sanctuary that it attacks," he said.

Jyoti said people do not realize that they are encroaching the domain of the tiger making the tiger feel insecure complicating the matter.

"I visited the Doan area and night patrolled the area to alert the people, asking them to stay away from the core area of the Valmiki Tiger Project," said Jyoti adding that the SSB jawan killed by a tiger on May 12, 2008, had also been warned by him.

He said that pamphlets with clear-cut instructions have been distributed in the villages situated on the outskirts of the project to stop the people going into the core area.

"The tigers who killed people in the past never came to the villages or open fields and carried the deceased nor they ever punctured the neck to kill them," he said adding the attack was with their claws.

With the rapid growth in human population, there is alarming interference in the jungles, making the wild cats feel insecure, said S Chandrashekhar DFO 1, adding the cat may become furious if it has cubs with it.

Naturally, the habitat that nurtured the big cats for centuries is inviting less attention today. As a fallout, there has been great loss of forest habitat and requires conservation efforts on the part of the government, sources said.

In the backdrop of the current scenario, an Indicative Tiger Conservation has been mooted that addresses some vital issues pertaining to short and long-term measures for safeguarding the tiger sanctuary, said Jyoti adding that it has been proposed to double the core critical area.

Talks are on for creating a buffer zone. At least 150 villages are to be included in the buffer zone increasing the overall management of the Tiger Project to 1500 sq km.

Within this specified area, a number of micro plans have been proposed that may help conservation of the habitat, said Jyoti.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/Maneater_triggers_panic_in_West_Champaran_district/articleshow/3299666.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Tiger attacks on rise in Indian Sundarbans after cyclone

2008-07-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

Tiger attacks on rise in Indian Sundarbans after cyclone

July 30th, 2008 - 12:41 pm ICT by IANS

By Soudhriti Bhabani

Kolkata, July 30 (IANS) A rise in tiger attacks in the Sundarbans mangrove forests of India indicates that the big cats are crossing over from Bangladesh where Cyclone Sidr destroyed much of their habitat, say wildlife activists in West Bengal. “A large number of tigers and crocodiles have entered into India’s side of the Sundarbans after being flushed out by Cyclonic Sidr that ravaged Bangladesh in November last year,” Debasis Chakraborty, wildlife crusader and People for Animals (PFA) managing trustee, told IANS.

“A vast area of mangrove forests was affected by that natural disaster leading to a serious displacement of wild animals.”

He said a fisherman, Putul Naskar, was dragged away by a tiger at Benipheli forest in the Sundarbans Sunday morning when he was busy catching crabs from the river.

“This was the ninth tiger attack in the Sundarbans since December last year and the sixth in the monsoon season. The tigers from Bangladesh side crossed the water channel and entered the Sundarbans in West Bengal through the Jhilla point in search of food.

“These tigers are not familiar with the human habitation and are attacking people very frequently,” Chakraborty said.

The Sundarbans has a vast area covering 4,262 sq km, including a mangrove cover of 2,125 sq km, in India alone. A larger portion lies in Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr in the Bay of Bengal left behind a trail of devastation last year killing over 3,000 people and uprooting a large area of the mangrove forests in Bangladesh.

West Bengal Sundarbans Affairs Minister Kanti Ganguly told IANS: “A good number of tigers might have come to this (India) side in search of food. They are also attacking people living in the deltaic region.”

Chakraborty said: “We request all villagers of the Sundarbans not to go out for fishing and collect forest products inside the core area during monsoon, though it’s regarded as off-season for tiger attacks.

“This is their (tigers’) mating season and they prefer to stay inside the dense forest area. But because of big cat infiltration from Bangladesh the tiger concentration has increased in the Sundarbans bio-sphere,” Chakraborty said.

According to reports, an 18-year-old fisherman, Narayan Das, was mauled to death at Kultali in the Sunderbans a few weeks ago.

In another incident, a tiger attacked 45-year-old Jangal Pramanik in Kultali when he was out with a fishing team in the Surjyamoni canal. A tiger suddenly pounced on Pramanik and injured him severely. When other fishermen raised an alarm, the tiger ran away.

A 45-year-old woman was killed in a crocodile attack while catching crabs in a river last week.

A tiger had sneaked into a farmer’s kitchen in the Sunderbans, triggering fear among the villagers.

“This kind of behaviour is not common among the Sundarbans tiger. It is very familiar with human habitation and hardly comes to the densely populated areas during monsoon.

“Sundarbans tigers are also experts in catching their prey. But the behaviour of tigers from the Bangladesh side, which were uprooted from their original territory due to Cyclone Sidr, is very unpredictable.”

Sunderbans is perhaps the only place in the world where man is not on top of the food chain. The tiger’s predatory instincts clash with human nature constantly in the Sundarbans, leading to a deadly battle for survival between the two.

Minister Ganguly said the state government was also planning pig and buffalo farming along the riverbanks in West Bengal’s Sundarbans.

“The project would be undertaken to provide food to the tigers and check the rising number of attacks.”

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/tiger-attacks-on-rise-in-indian-sundarbans-after-cyclone_10077600.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Tiger Attacks: Who takes the blame?

2008-07-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

Tiger Attacks: Who takes the blame?

Even as extinction stares the tiger in its face, attacks on humans venturing to core areas of tiger reserve continue to be blamed on it. This leaves little chance for survival of the most beautiful of big cats, the Bengal Tigers in the Sunderbans.

AMIRUL NAIYA narrowly escaped from the jaws of death on Thursday evening (24 July), when a tiger swam to his mechanised country boat anchored on Kendodwip in the Sunderbans and grabbed him. But for Anarul, his quick thinking brother, he would have lost his life.

Anarul abandoned the fishing net he was cleaning and caught Anirul’s free arm. The other arm was in the mouth of the Royal Bengal Tiger. The tug-of-war lasted 15 minutes; then the tiger gave up. Amirul was taken to Basanti for treatment and is said to be recovering.

Blame it on the tiger. But was the tiger really at fault? What exactly were the brothers doing in Kendodwip? Kendodwip is in the core area of Sunderban’s Tiger Reserve. Core areas of tiger reserves are by definition strictly forbidden to human beings. Amirul and his brothers were in the middle of it.

They were not only breaking the law; they were invading the habitat of one of the most critically endangered species of the world, the panthera tigris tigris, otherwise known as the Bengal Tiger. A habitat is where tigers are free to roam and hunt. Kendodwip lies in this tiger’s range and he was merely trying to get his meal.

Consider a group of total strangers using your bedroom for the night without as much as by your leave. Unless you are a reincarnation of Gautam Buddha chances are you will turn them out of your house; and you are hardly likely to be blamed for doing so. The tiger, curiously, is blamed for attacking intruders within space, which belongs exclusively to him. Attacks on the likes of Amirul are without exception said to be the tigers’ fault.

Where there is intrusion there is bound to be conflict. This is true of humans as well as animals. The spate of media report on tiger attacks merely proves human invasion of tiger habitat is on the rise. “A tiger attacks villagers, when they venture into the prohibited area,” says Atanu Raha, principal chief conservator of forest, West Bengal while explaining one of the recent attacks by tigers.

Things become difficult for the tiger when the season for collection of honey arrives. People throng the jungles for this lucrative forest produce. “Villagers enter the forests, with or without permits, to collect honey. The recent incident was not a case of a stray tiger, rather here the villagers fell prey to an attack in the jungle itself,” said Col Shakti Banerjee, Honorary Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). He was referring to yet another attack by a tiger within his range.

The rapid increase in the population in India has lead to an alarming loss of tiger habitat in the Sunderbans and elsewhere in the country. The problem does not get any easier with illegal felling and poaching thrown in. Yet, political will to provide protection to the animals is seldom visible.

Any attempt to take the first step towards resolving the conflict involves sticky problems of relocation of villages and alternate employment of villagers. Unpopular measures all. So, we hear much, but see little. The tiger after all, cannot vote. People can and do. It will not do to upset sections of voters for a bunch of wild animals.

It is about time the perspective on tiger attacks changes. Today our tigers face extinction. There are 1,140 tigers in India now compared to 40,000 at the end of the 19th century. In the Sunderbans there are less than 300 tigers. Saving the tigers is important to maintain the ecological balance of the region. A loss of balance will result in a domino effect, which if it does occur will go completely out of hand and spell ecological disaster at an unprecedented scale.

A billion people versus a mere 1,100 tigers. What chances do the tigers have? Indeed what chances do these most magnificent and precious of all creatures have! What chances, in turn, does our world have?

http://india.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=138343
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

32-yr-old fisherman mauled by tiger in Sunderban

2008-07-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

32-yr-old fisherman mauled by tiger in Sunderban

Express News Service
Posted online: Monday , July 28, 2008 at 03:45:15
Updated: Monday , July 28, 2008 at 03:45:15

Kolkata, July 27 Once again, Sunderban recorded a tiger attack on Sunday and this time it was a fisherman.

A Royal Bengal tiger pounced on 32-year-old Putul Naskar, who was on his boat and dragged him into Benisiliforest of the Sunderbans, police said.

Naskar had gone into the forest to look for crabs.

Earlier, State Forest Minister Ananta Roy had expressed his concern over fishermen repeatedly venturing into the core area, which is a prohibited zone, and falling prey to tigers.

Fishing and all kinds of commercial activities are prohibited in the core area but a section of residents regularly breached the fencing.

The state government was encouraging pig-rearing by locals so that the animals could be released into the core area to maintain the food chain, while NGOs were being involved in raising public awareness against entering the core area.

On July 1, a villager in Kalashdwip had fallen prey to tiger attack after he had stepped into the creeks of Sunderbans for fishing.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/32yrold-fisherman-mauled-by-tiger-in-Sunderban/341344/
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Two more killed in tiger attack

2008-07-27T22:48:00.001-07:00

Two more killed in tiger attack

28 Jul 2008, 0508 hrs IST, Mazhar Ali,TNN

CHANDRAPUR: Tiger terror is back in the forests of Nagbhid tehsil as the big cat claimed two more lives on Saturday evening in Balapur FDCM territory. The villagers recovered the mutilated dead bodies of deceased Rajeshwar Kumre (55) and Ramesh Ichkape (20), both shepherds from village Jankapur in Nagbhid tehsil on Sunday morning.

With this, six persons have died since March this year in Nagbhid tehsil whereas the toll of human kill by tiger in Chandrapur district this year has risen to 10. Sources said, Kumre's body had injury marks on neck and back.

The body of Ichkape was found some 1 km away from the body of Kumre and the tiger had eaten one entire leg of the deceased.

Villagers suspect shepherds fell prey to a tigress

CHANDRAPUR: The big cat claimed two more lives on Saturday evening in Balapur FDCM territory. Sources said that the bodies of the two deceased shepherds, Ichkape and Kumre, were found on Sunday morning.

The police from Talodhi outpost, located at about 6 kms from the place of incident, reached the spot for completing the necessary formalities, but on insistence of villagers moved the bodies to Jankapur even before the forest authorities could reach there.

Meanwhile, villagers from Janakapur are suspecting that both the shepherds might have become victims of a tigress that was sighted with two of its cubs, some time back in the forests on the fringes of Janakapur. Sources claimed that the spot where the duo was killed falls in compartment No 70 of Balapur FDCM headed by divisional manager S Khairnar.

Nagbhid police station and Mandar Vaidya, SDO, Bramhapuri division, confirmed the incident and held that it was the act of a tiger. However, no concerned forest officer could be reached for further details.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Two_more_killed_in_tiger_attack/articleshow/3292736.cms http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Teenage Tour Guide Mauled by Lion

2008-07-18T06:16:00.001-07:00

By Michael MacLeod

A TEENAGE gap year student says she feels lucky to be alive after being mauled by a lion while working abroad as a tour guide.

Lisa Baxter, 19, was working at a safari park in New Zealand when Timba, an African White Lion, sunk his teeth into both her hands.

But the animal-lover knew that if she screamed out, she might wake the rest of the pack and she'd have no chance of survival.

So she calmly patted the lion's nose and freed herself before calling for help from colleagues.

And although Lisa had to cut her trip short to come home and recover, she insists she is glad she lived to tell the tale.

Speaking from her home in Gullane, Lisa recalls: "I was giving a talk to a group of tourists and stroking Timba's nose when he just grabbed my hand.

"His teeth were razor sharp and went straight through my skin.

"I knew not to panic, so tapped his nose to get him to back off, but he bit that hand as well. Luckily the second time his teeth didn't stay in my hand for too long."

Timba was one of a family of five lions in the enclosure, and the attack on Lisa could have been much worse if the others had gotten involved.

She said: "If the others in the pack weren't all sleeping I might not have made it home to tell the story, so thank god they all stayed asleep."

But although she will now be scarred for life, she says she doesn't blame the one-and-a-half-year-old cat.

She said: "I know he was only playing and totally blame myself for what happened.

"I really don't think he was trying to rip me apart or be violent at all, if anything he thought we were playing, because he's only 18 months old.

"But even at that age lions are still huge, and I felt like screaming. But if I had I'm sure they all would have come over."

Because Lisa stayed so quiet throughout the attack, the tour group she was guiding were none the wiser until a colleague came to assist her and they saw the blood.

The animal biology student was whisked off to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

Doctors gave her 13 stitches but the wounds were so wide that the medics wouldn't discharge her for another four days and kept her on continuous antibiotics.

She said: "My hands were so swollen I thought they were going to explode. It really wasn't nice."

Despite her ordeal, Lisa says nothing can put her off her ambition of becoming an animal handler.

She said: "I still really want to go out to Africa or South America to work with more big cats.

"Animals are my passion. I'm not scared at all, whether it's hugging a bear or stroking lions, nothing phases me."

Already Lisa has volunteered at Deep Sea World the SSPCA and Edinburgh Zoo where she handled snakes.

As well as being fearless, she admits to being "overly glamorous" when working with animals.

She said: "I don't mind picking up animal poo or getting muddy, as long as I've got my make up on.

"I'm not girly or squeamish, I'll do anything as long as I look nice for the pictures.

"Handling animals is something I've always been naturally good at, and I'd happily go meet Timba again, he's a lovely wee thing."

http://deadlinescotland.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/lisas-silence-leads-to-lion-attack-survival/

SF Zoo Statements At Odds With Tiger Case Records

2008-07-17T01:08:00.001-07:00

SF Zoo Statements At Odds With Tiger Case Records
Jul 14, 2008 12:18 pm US/Pacific

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS Radio) ― San Francisco Zoo officials now say they were purposely trying to reduce the weight of the tiger that killed a teenager on Christmas Day by 40-50 pounds, in contrast to the zoo's own records and earlier comments to news reporters.

Tatiana arrived from the Denver Zoo in December 2005 as a healthy two and a half year old weighing 292 pounds. Last month, a KCBS Radio investigation revealed that her weight dropped steadily in San Francisco -- into the 270s in 2006, the 260s in the first half of last year, to 255 last November and to 244 eight days before the fatal attack. Her necropsy set her weight at death at 242 pounds, her lowest since she was 15 months old.

Despite the steady and significant decline, zoo veterinarian Jacqueline Jencek said in a February interview that Tatiana's weight loss was "seasonal," that she lost weight in winter and put it back on in summer. In the 20-minute interview, Jencek did not say the zoo was purposely trying to shed significant weight from the tiger. The dozens of pages of records obtained from the zoo also make no mention of a continuing weight reduction program for Tatiana.

But eight days after KCBS Radio and CBS 5 broadcast the original reports about Tatiana's weight loss, Jencek told a San Francisco Chronicle reporter inquiring about the story that Tatiana was fed less to purposely lower her weight from the 290s to "about 250." The Denver Zoo, however, said that Tatiana was healthy when she was shipped to San Francisco, and that there was "no indication that there was any concern about her weight." In her last six months in Denver, she had weighed between 292 and 299 pounds.

According to the Chronicle, Jencek said the San Francisco Zoo had consulted several other zoos, including Denver's, "before determining that Tatiana… should weigh about 250 pounds." But zoo records reveal that information from the other zoos was used to support a diet increase, not a decrease, for the tiger.

On February 10, 2006, six weeks after Tatiana attacked a zookeeper by clawing and chewing her arm, she weighed in at 260 pounds. It was her first weighing since the attack and her lowest weight since her arrival, but still above the 250 pounds the zoo now says was her target. But on the very next day, the zoo approved a diet increase for Tatiana, from the 32-36 pounds a week they had fed her since her arrival to 38-42 pounds, close to what she had been fed in Denver. Attached to the diet increase request form were the notes from the other zoos, indicating larger diets for similar tigers, and apparently supporting the increase in food for Tatiana.

Five weeks later, without weighing her again, the zoo reduced her diet back to 32-36 pounds a week, because, a zoo official said, she was "gaining too much weight." Her diet stayed at the lower amount even as she fell to 244 pounds when she was weighed on December 17, eight days before the fatal attack. She was four and a half years old.

Zoo officials declined to be interviewed about the discrepancies among their most recent statements, their own records and what they had previously told reporters.

While her necropsy showed her to be in good health, and in "good nutritional status" according to the zoo, Tatiana's significant weight loss raised questions about whether she was getting enough to eat to satisfy a wild animal, and how that might have affected her behavior.

Related Slideshows

San Francisco Zoo Tiger Attack

First Look At New SF Zoo Tiger Cubs

http://cbs5.com/local/zoo.tiger.mauling.2.770928.html
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Bangladeshi wrestles with tiger to save brother

2008-07-11T22:10:00.001-07:00

Bangladeshi wrestles with tiger to save brother

DHAKA (AFP) — A Bangladeshi man said he fought with a tiger for 30 minutes to save his brother who was critically injured in the attack.

The two men and their father were fishing in Bangladesh's Sunderbans mangrove forest when the tiger pounced, assistant conservator of the forest Bipul Krishna Das told AFP.

One of the brothers was rushed to Sharonkhola sub-district hospital and is in a critical condition following the attack on Wednesday morning, duty doctor Bablu Kishore Biswas said.

"The sharp claw of the tiger penetrated into his jaw. Luckily his neck is not broken, but still his condition is critical," the doctor said.

The younger brother, Masud Mollah, said that without thinking about his own safety, he approached the tiger and grabbed its mouth so it couldn't bite.

Masud, who is being treated for shock, said he fought with the tiger for about 30 minutes after it pounced on his sibling without warning.

"Suddenly, with no warning, a tiger pounced on my brother and he fell down the slope of the canal. He yelled to me to help him. His face was smeared with blood and the tiger was licking it off," Masud said.

"My brother had been holding a big knife, but he dropped it when the tiger attacked. I grabbed the knife, which was lying close to the tiger, and I hit it with the handle."

Masud said he continued to fight with the animal until it gave up and headed back into the forest.

Forest officials have said an increasing human presence in the Sunderbans forest is mainly to blame for a growing number of tiger-related deaths.

According to a UN-funded census, the 10,000 square kilometres Sunderbans mangrove forest, which straddles India and Bangladesh, is home to at least 668 endangered Royal Bengal tigers, with some 420 living on the Bangladesh side.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hI2pPSV3pfA0nTRCBBC6f1vRCq7g
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Paramilitary trooper killed by tiger in Bihar

2008-07-09T22:27:00.001-07:00

Paramilitary trooper killed by tiger in Bihar
8 Jul, 2008, 1732 hrs IST, IANS

PATNA: A paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) trooper has been killed by a tiger in a national park in Bihar's West Champaran district, police said on Tuesday.

Pramod K. Singh, an SSB jawan of 12th battalion, was attacked and killed by a tiger near the Kismi rivulet in the Valmiki National Park, a police official said.

The national park, which is Bihar's only tiger project, is over 250 km from here.

The incident has created panic among the SSB personnel and villagers who moved about freely in the forest despite warnings by forest officials.

Last May, a woman was killed by a tiger in the national park.

However, the tiger population in the Valmiki National Park has been decreasing at an alarming rate, according to the latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

According to the report, there were 56 tigers in the park in 2002 and the number came down to 33 by 2005.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Flora__Fauna/Paramilitary_trooper_killed_by_tiger_in_Bihar/articleshow/3211289.cms
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Fisherman survives tiger attack

2008-07-04T22:48:00.001-07:00

Fisherman survives tiger attack

By Amitabha Bhattasali
BBC News, Calcutta

An Indian fisherman whose father was killed by a tiger 20 years ago has dramatically survived a similar attack in the state of West Bengal.

The Bengal tiger struck on Tuesday as Fatik Halder was crab fishing in the Sunderbans mangrove forest.

For 20 minutes he was embroiled in a life or death battle with the animal, which bit and clawed him repeatedly.

Mr Halder then had to survive a traumatic journey to Calcutta to get treatment injuries to his upper body.

As Mr Halder fought the tiger he remembered that his father, Gour, had been killed in a similar attack.

"Around 10 o'clock in the morning, when I jumped into the water in Benifeli forest and threw in the [fishing] net, I suddenly felt a searing pain," he told the BBC.

"I didn't know, for a couple of seconds, what had hit me."

Realising that he was under attack from a man-eater, Mr Halder decided to fight back.

He thought of his two children and wife, who were at home waiting for him to return. He frantically dug his heels into the mud and levered his fingers under the tiger's jaws.

"The pain was becoming unbearable. I don't know how I managed to dodge the blows," he said.

The animal's teeth pierced his right shoulder.

It tried to wrestle him to the river bed with its paws but the water and mud made it difficult for it to keep its footing and it finally gave up.

Hero

Bleeding and traumatised, the injured fisherman then had to survive another ordeal - the 10-hour journey to Calcutta for medical treatment.

Fatik's heroic survival has already passed into local folklore.

He now insists that his fishing days are over and that he will be looking for some other job.

But perhaps he should consider himself lucky to be nursing his injuries alive.

A day before he was attacked another man, Narayan Das, was savaged by a tiger which clawed him in the neck inside the Sunderbans reserve.

It happened when Mr Das' boat became stuck in one of the numerous creeks that criss-cross the mangrove forest and he and other fisherman jumped into the water to push.

By the time his friends managed to fend the tiger off using kitchen utensils, sticks and other items, Mr Das was critically injured.

He was officially declared dead in the nearest town 100km (62 miles) away.

His family will not get any compensation, forestry officials say, because the fishermen were trespassing in the tiger reserve.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7487583.stm
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Tiger mauls fisherman to death

2008-07-02T00:05:00.002-07:00

Tiger mauls fisherman to death

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 : 1535 Hrs

Canning (PTI): A tiger has killed a fisherman near Binifeli jungle in Kalasdwip near the Sunderbans in South 24-Parganas district, police said on Tuesday.

Narayan Das (20) was attacked while fishing with his brother-in-law on the river on Monday night.

Das belonged to Kalyani in Nadia district and had been on a holiday visit to the area.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200807011551.htm
http://www.bigcatrescue.org

San Francisco denies liability in tiger attack

2008-07-02T00:05:00.001-07:00

San Francisco denies liability in tiger attack
Sean Webby
Mercury News
Article Launched: 06/30/2008 02:45:21 PM PDT

Family members of a San Jose teen fatally mauled by a Siberian tiger on Christmas Day at the San Francisco Zoo will file a lawsuit against the city as soon as this month, according to their lawyer.
Carlos Sousa Jr.'s family accuses the zoo of wrongful death and negligence in a claim that San Francisco rejected on Friday. The city says Cardoza is going after the wrong agency.

But Cardoza said the city is the responsible party.

"The city ought to build a river though the zoo and call it the moat of denial," Michael Cardoza said Monday. "They didn't underfeed the animal. They denied anything ever happened the first time Tatiana bit somebody. When they undertake to house dangerous animals the law says they are liable."

Late Christmas day, Tatiana, a 250-pound Siberian tiger, leaped from her grotto and fatally mauled the 17-year-old Sousa. Tatiana also seriously wounded two of his friends, brothers Amritpal and Kulbir Dhaliwal, both of San Jose. Police eventually shot and killed the tiger.

According to City Attorney's Office spokesman Matt Dorsey, the denial is a procedural step that referred the claimants to the San Francisco Zoological Society and its insurer. Sousa's attorney can now file a lawsuit within six months.

'It's not a qualitative judgment about the seriousness of the tragedy," Dorsey said Monday. "We're in no way seeking to minimize the terrible loss suffered by the Sousa family."

In May, the city likewise denied a claim filed by attorneys for the Dhaliwals.

After the maulings, San Francisco police investigated whether the young men may have taunted the tiger. On Jan. 29, police suspended the investigation without filing any charges.

Since that time, the zoo has also spent $1.7 million on safety renovations, and the fence now stands at 16.4 feet. It was nearly four feet lower than industry standards.

Carodoza said the city and the zoo and others should stop blaming his client and the two brothers and take a more critical look at themselves.

"We are suing the right people," said Cardoza. "A young man's life taken because of the way that zoo was run. The public should be up in arms."

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9745871
http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Zoo Denies Tiger Underfed Before Attack

2008-07-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

Zoo Denies Tiger Underfed Before Attack

By Ivan Velinov
Epoch Times San Francisco Staff
Jul 01, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—San Francisco Zoo officials disputed a report, that Tatiana, a female Siberian Tiger that mauled a teenage visitor of the zoo in December, might have been fed less and was hungry before the deadly attack.

Last week, zoo officials published a statement in response to a KCBS radio report which claimed that Tatiana had allegedly lost at least 50 pounds since her arrival at the San Francisco Zoo. The radio report raised concerns that the tiger might have been fed less than in her previous home in Denver which might have been a factor that triggered her aggressive attack.

"The autopsy shows that she was in a good nutritional state and good body state. KCBS just chose to leave those things out; they took a little bit of information, talked to the so-called experts until they got the answers they wanted, and turned it into a headline story," said Lora LaMarka, a spokeswoman for the zoo.

In the report, the radio stated that zoo records show that Tatiana arrived in San Francisco in December 2005 weighing 292 pounds based on zoo records. The tiger was entering the prime of her life at two and a half years when she was shot by the police during the fatal mauling in December 2007. She weighed 242 pounds when she was killed, according to the radio investigation.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, zoo officials called the report that Tatiana was underfed at the time of her death, and not cared for properly "incredibly disappointing."

Dr. Jacqueline Jencek, chief veterinarian, stated that the tiger's behavior and weight were in line with that of a Siberian tiger of her age. She had adequate fat stores at autopsy. An animal that is chronically underfed would not have these fat stores as she did and every animal diet is adjusted accordingly based on each individual animal's needs, according to Jensek.

"The animal keepers and veterinary caretakers at the San Francisco Zoo pamper and love these animals, as if they were a member of their own family," the zoo statement said.

Teenager Carlos Sousa was visiting the zoo on Christmas Day when the tiger escaped from her enclosure. When the mauling occurred Sousa was with his brother Kulbir, 23, and a friend Paul Dhaliwal, 19.

A toxicology report released in June, revealed that the fatally mauled teenager tested positive for marijuana and alcohol.

Tatiana's autopsy found that her hind claws were frayed, suggesting she escaped by climbing over the wall of her enclosure to reach the three young men. There were allegations that the trio taunted and provoked the tiger, but the San Francisco investigation did not find any evidence of wrongdoing.

This incident, however, revealed that the wall of the tiger's enclosure was four feet shorter than the required industry standard and the zoo since than has spent $1.7 million on renovations to beef up its safety.

The fence now stands at 16.4 feet, as a contrast to the 12 feet it stood at when the deadly attack occurred.

Another accident that involved Tatiana occurred one year earlier. On Dec. 22, 2006, former zookeeper Lori Komejan had been clawed and bitten by the tiger during a feeding and suffered serious injuries. She never returned to work and filed a lawsuit.

Both the Sousa family and Dhaliwal family have filed claims against the City of San Francisco. The City has denied those claims, setting the stage for a long and protracted lawsuit.

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-7-1/72742.html
http://www.bigcatrescue.org