Dec 22, 2006 10:12 pm US/Pacific
Attack Tiger Still On Display At SF Zoo
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ―
A 3-year-old Siberian tiger that attacked its trainer Friday afternoon is in the normal public viewing area of the San Francisco Zoo Saturday and has not given zookeepers any problems since the incident, zoo spokesman Paul Garcia said.
Zoo officials called 911 at about 2:15 p.m. Friday after an animal care staff member sustained cuts to her arms following a routine feeding demonstration inside the zoo's Lion House.
Big cats at the zoo are fed at 2 p.m. daily except Mondays, according to the zoo's Web site.
While the zoo's three tigers and four lions remain on exhibit Saturday in their outdoor habitat, the Lion House will remain closed until zoo officials deem it appropriate to re-open, Garcia reported.
Bob Jenkins, director of animal care at the zoo, said Friday he didn't know how the tiger was able to attack the trainer, since Tatiana-- the tiger--was completely enclosed in her cage during the feeding.
"Animals are in a cage during the feeding, we don't know how the animal was able to get hold of the trainer...They're always separated, you don't go into a cage with a tiger," Jenkins said.
The trainer, whose name is not being released, has fed and interacted with Tatiana since the tiger's arrival last December, Jenkins said. Jenkins added the trainer joined the zoo in 1997 and has considerable experience feeding the lions and tigers.
Tatiana was born in captivity and has no history of any attacks on humans, Jenkins said.
Garcia reported the injured trainer was "conscious and alert" after the attack and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
The condition of the injured trainer is not being released as requested by her family and friends.
According to its Web site, the San Francisco Zoo is one of the only zoos in the U.S. where visitors can see big cat feedings.
A crowd of about 75 people lingered nearby inside the Lion House on Friday after the attack, according to Jenkins.
Garcia said in a written statement that "zoo officials want to commend and express deep gratitude to the individuals involved with yesterday's activities, including the staff and respondents from the San Francisco emergency and fire departments."
The zoo is open until 5 p.m. Saturday, Garcia reported.
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