(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-27 15:37

 

A zoo visitor watches Tatiana, a Siberian tiger, in this Sept. 7, 2007, in San Francisco. [File photo]

"They didn't call, like we lost a dog or a cat. But we do have questions. How did this happen? This isn't the first time, either," Marilza Sousa said.

Hanna predicted other US zoos would reassess their tiger enclosures if it turns out the tiger was able to leap out. He said he never before heard of a zoo visitor being killed by an animal.

"It's much safer going to a zoo than getting in your car and going down the driveway," he said.

The first attack happened right outside the tiger's enclosure - the victim died at the scene. Another was about 300 yards away, in front of a cafe. The police chief said the animal was mauling the man, and when officers yelled at it to stop, it turned toward them and they opened fire.

Only then did they see the third victim, police said.

About 20 visitors were in the zoo when the attacks happened about an hour before the 6 p.m. closing time, officials said. Employees and visitors were told to take shelter when zoo officials learned of the attacks, and some employees locked themselves inside buildings as they had been instructed to do if an animal escaped.

There were five tigers at the zoo - three Sumatrans and two Siberians. Officials initially worried that four of them had gotten loose.

The zoo was closed on Wednesday and will remain closed at least through Thursday, officials said.

Mollinedo said colleagues from other US zoos will be brought in to help re-evaluate the big cat exhibit.

After last year's attack, the state fined the zoo $18,000. The zoo added customized steel mesh over the bars, built in a feeding chute and increased the distance between the public and the cats.

Tatiana came from the Denver Zoo a few years ago, with officials hoping she would mate with a male tiger. There are more than 600 endangered Siberian tigers living in captivity worldwide.

US Department of Agriculture spokesman Jim Rogers said his agency is looking into the attack for violations of federal animal-welfare laws.

The San Francisco Zoo is as an accredited member in good standing of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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