I thought this video might be of interest to you:
So, just to be accurate, I searched in my library until I found in Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 12, Page 349 (copyright 1972) that tigers have been found to jump down up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) with the average of 5-6 meter jumps (16-19.7 feet).
In Walker’s Mammals of the World, Fifth Edition, the citation in Volume II, page 1209 says, “It (tiger species) has been reported to cover up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) in a horizontal leap.”
Based on these citations, I believe it would have been completely feasible for Tatiana, the San Francisco Zoo’s Siberian tiger to have jumped out of her enclosure.
If you have not yet heard, the actual wall height was only found to be 12 feet–well below the industry recommended standard.
Tiger Victims Released
So, now that we are several days aways from the tiger attack incident the news reports have slowed down some–but that does not mean San Francisco Zoo’s troubles are over.
The two other tiger victims were released from the hospital yesterday. They have not wanted to talk with anyone about the incident and reports are that they have been uncooperative with law enforcement officials.
The zoo may loose its exhibitor license but it is too early to tell. However, a Federal investigation into the tiger attack incident has been reported. Big trouble and I bet the AZA inspector is getting an ear full. The AZA is the group that accredited the zoo and failed to notice the tiger grotto wall was substandard.
Yikes. Granted, nobody goes around with a measuring tape–but maybe it is a practice that needs to be implemented.
I shared insider secrets about inspectors…they don’t always notice what they should.
Yes, there is a problem for the zoo. But I can’t dismiss the notion that the victims contributed to the reason the tiger was agitated enough to escape. If so, they probably won’t be charged with anything–if my understanding is correct.
More disturbing facts were released today when it was discovered how chaotic the whole scene was–details revealed from the police and fire logs.
Still wondering if they even had mutual aid agreements in place. What a mess.
I am still waiting to hear about the forensic findings and I’d love to have a look at the necropsy reports.