A couple of days ago a woman in British Columbia (Canada) was killed by a pet tiger. The tiger belonged to the woman's fiance, a magician who kept a "private zoo" where people could get their photos taken with these animals. The tiger was in its cage the whole time, but reached outside the cage and grabbed her, causing fatal injuries to her legs. The private zoo also housed two other tigers and two lions among other exotic animals. The tiger involved in the incident has been euthanized. This incident has led to calls for regulations against keeping exotic animals and should serve as a reminder to us that big cats are wild animals that are very strong and can be unpredictable, and have no place as pets. While I have strong feeling on the topic of private ownership of tigers and lions, my heart still aches for the family and friends of the woman involved.
Why Tigers Don't Make Good Pets
From Lianne McLeod, DVM, About.com GuideMay 14, 2007
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Comments
In a circus I worked in one Summer, there was an animal trainer with several lions and tigers. While he was training with the tiger cubs one afternoon, another performer was sweeping beside the cage. In a moment, the trainer was tackeling the performer to the floor to keep him from getting killed. The cubs were less than a year old and as playful as most kittens. The problem was not their disposition but the size and power behind their paws. In attempt to bat at the broom as it moved in from of the cage, the cub had missed the performers head by a breathe. As beautiful,loving and fun to watch as they may be, their power is to be respected. Their power belongs in the Jungle where they were created to live.
I should add that I find it extremely sad that the tiger was euthanized; after all, he was just being a tiger. The whole incident seemed to have started out almost as play behavior, and the problem is the sheer amount of power these animals possess, as Stephanie pointed out in the first comment.
It is so unfair that anyone is allowed
to keep a tiger and I am very dismayed
at the fact that the tiger was euthanized. I am sure there are animal
sancturies in Canada that would have been more than happy to preserve this
animal’s life. What is wrong with people who think it is fair to these
animals to keep them in a prison of sorts. By the way, I hope that the
other animals were taken from the individual who maintained them and put
in a sanctuary that, perhaps, would
mimic their natural habitat.
How sad for the woman that lost her life
–how sad for her family–and how sad for the loss of one of God’s greatest
creatures–the tiger.
Sally
I find it extremely upsetting that the tiger was euthanized. Yes I feel sad that the woman died and I feel sad for her family, but in no way was the tiger trying to hurt her on purpose. I would like to see all of the animals taken away from this man and put somewhere that is close to its natural habitat as possible. It is totally unfair to the animal to be caged up and used for humans pleasure.
I agree that certain exotic animals require more regulation than is currently in place. I say this despite the fact that I have a number of exotic animals as pets. However, I think it is a mistake to become overly emotional about this subject by calling for a ban on all exotics. Many exotics do make perfectly good pets that adjust well to captivity and pose no threat to their handlers. Many exotics have been bred in captivity for decades. They’ve never known a life in the wild. One’s freedom to make a choice about what kind of animals to keep should not be subject to other people’s vague notions of suitability or morality. It should be based on hard fact. We should be asking:
1. Does this animal pose a serious physical threat? Is it more dangerous than your average pitbull terrier?
2. Does it pose serious health risks? Are it’s chances of transmitting a disease to other animals or humans significant?
3. If it were to escape into the wild, could it potentially make an environmental impact. Could it devestate crops or displace wildlife?
If an animal fits into one of these three categories then there should be some pretty heavy regulations.
“Exotic” animals are no more deserving of our concern than any other animal.
Excellent comments. Yes, I feel sorry for the finace that lost her life. Having owned wolves for the last 27 years, I have grown to appreciate and respect exotics. It was probably a fluke that she was hurt. Most of the time, it is we, as humans, that can’t fully predict the actions of animals. So because we don’t understand, it is easier to kill the animal that probably didn’t have any intention on hurting the girl. And because we didn’t understand the tiger’s actions, we kill the tiger.
I admit that some people should not own exotics, but there are some people that shouldn’t have kids. It is ashame that we are still so quick to judge the animal and it ends up killed. It should have gone to another location if the owner was not a responsible owner.
Again, I’m sorry for the loss, not only the owner’s finace, but for his friend and companion, the tiger. Don’t be so quick to judge the owner!!!
I understand that the woman was standing next to the cage and the tiger was playing with her skirt. She probably tried to pull away and the tiger pulled her nearer. A house cat will perform the same behavior.
I’m sorry about the woman certainly. But I understand this cat was in a small cage and probably was craving something to play with or take his frustration out on.
He should have been taken to a sanctuary along with the rest of the “exotics.”
My condolences to the family of the victim. It is painful to lose someone so abruptly.
There is something that I have disdain for ever since I realised how much I love animals and how much pets are dependent on their owners — it is sad to note that the tiger was euthanized for this incident. It happens to any animal that killed a human being, even dogs get similar fate. I wonder if this tiger cub was given a chance to prove that it wasn’t being predatorial or violent before it was euthanized. I remember in my country there was a case of a Rottweiller which killed someone but was spared from euthanization when I think someone from the K-9 police force managed to convince authorities that it could be trained.
When we become owners of pets, we have a responsibility to the pet to be its guardian. It depends on us when it becomes our pet, for food and shelter and care. I disdain the fact that people are able to obtain the pet and then because the pet does something that is natural and/or “right” to its nature which causes fatality to a human, gets its life terminated.
Anyway, in the end whatever happens happens for a reason. I hope that the sacrifice of the lady’s life and of the tiger, has brought some higher good to some if not all.
~ RS
I am stunned that the tiger was put down for being a cat.Your pet kitty can and will inflict attention getting bites and scratches.Its part of owning and playing with a feline.If you are going to a larger size feline,bare in mind your household kitty,and be on alert at all times.This was not the Tiger’s fault and it had to suffer for just being a cat.
Dear Exotic Pets,
I concur with the comments of your readers and, while my sympathies are with the woman unfortunately the victim of this incident, the rationality of the situation is that the woman should not have been in the habitat of this “endangered species” and also the Canadian Government should not have decided to shoot the animal, who was by nature acting under instinct and innocent of his crime.
It is encouraging to see that the “tide of opinion” has altered within the past two decades and that the opinions of your readers indicate a definite “coming of age” in the understanding of this situation!
As with mountaineering and the hazards involved, the intruders onto natural habitats should not expect our sympathies when they should not be there in the first place! We have enough intrusive behaviour by TV film crews and documentaries by naturalists to last man’s insatiable greed for natural wildlife well into the year 30000 so this kind of stupid behaviour should not be expected to be belauded!
I am very sorry for the loss of a human life, however the baby was being what it was, a baby!
I currently work at a Sanctuary and we have babies. “Oh” they are cute and play and act like our domestic kitties. But, one has to respect size, power, weight and instinct. Cats big or samll are going to be just that.
I am currently looking for a school or books to help me learn more on their behavior. I have all my life rescued domestic wild, stray and injured kitties. I have been chewed up and spit out many a time and to the emergency room because of these little kitties. I do however respect them but they are much smaller than myself and if in need I will help them.
These Tiger kitties I dare not over step my bound, I have to respect their size and their instinct. Their play can be fatal to a human.
Please any advice as to books, or school please e-mail me.
People need also realize that one can go on line to adopt one which is illegal here in the states. These animals are than put to sleep or end up where I work at a sanctuary to save their life.