[sorrowthepig]

<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/ap_on_re_us/brf_tiger_killed_2" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/...tiger_killed_2</a><br><br><br><br>
"Lowry Park Zoo also exists as a center for conservation of endangered wildlife both locally and around the globe."<br><br><a href="http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/html/l2/l2_zooyou_history.html" target="_blank">http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/html/l2/...u_history.html</a><br><br><br><br>
I guess that explains the choice of a lethal round vs. an immobilization dart fired into one of the most critically endangered subspecies of tiger on the planet. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wall.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":wall:">

 

[MoonJumper]

WTH?!?! That's terrible! It would NOT have taken long for the tiger to do down if it was shot with a dart or something, seriously. Can't these people use common sense? I am sad now, because I really love tigers, and this one was just senselessly killed...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/bigcry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Tesseract]

Oh, how sad... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/bigcry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[das_nut]

Just to play devil's advocate, AFAIK tranq darts need to be sized to the animal's weight, and the species involved may be a factor as well. There's also the problem of what happens when the first shot seems to do nothing -- does the shooter assume that (s)he has missed, and fire another shot, or does (s)he assume that the beast has been hit and will require some time for the drugs to take effect? According to google maps, this zoo seems to be in a residential area, and a 200lb tiger that isn't afraid of humans will probably be a great danger to to anyone in that area.<br><br><br><br>
But ya, poor tiger.

 

[Tesseract]

I don't know what kind of preparations for this sort of problem zoos normally take, but I would think you're never going to have a better opportunity for appropriate use of a tranq than when you are responsible for keeping the animal and you probably know its weight and temperament pretty well. I would hope any sensible zoo that keeps dangerous animals would have appropriately dosed darts handy for just such a situation.

 

[das_nut]

Was it bright enough to see that it was a tiger, or too dark to tell if it was a tiger or a leopard (the zoo has both, judging from their website)?<br><br><br><br>
Also, consider the risk -- if the tiger managed to maul little Johnny or Jamie Dearest to death (or worst (from a liability perspective) left them alive), how much is that zoo going to lose in the resulting lawsuit? How many families will avoid the zoo where their animal killed someone?

 

[Seb_0810]

That is terrible. I hate it when mistreated animals, especially in circuses, get shot. It is not their fault! One time I was watching a show on animal planet called "the World's Most Dangerous Animals". It was about various animals attacking people, and included an example of an abused circus elephant that was running away and got shot. Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PeTA, spoke on the show and said something like this: "Many people wonder why animals attack humans. Animals attack humans because of their survival instincts, such as self defense and the need for food. Humans kill animals because of ego and greed. We are supposed to be the most intelligent species on Earth, and it is about time we show it." I totally agree with her.

 

[das_nut]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Seb_0810</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PeTA, spoke on the show and said something like this: "Many people wonder why animals attack humans. Animals attack humans because of their survival instincts, such as self defense and the need for food. Humans kill animals because of ego and greed. We are supposed to be the most intelligent species on Earth, and it is about time we show it." I totally agree with her.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I'm not too sure about that. Animals torture each other, and they kill each other for more than just food or self defense.<br><br><br><br>
In ways, humans are more like other animals than we like to admit. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">