wrongful death
wendy permalink | categories: education, environment, incredible, tampa, tourismby wendy @ 10:30 pm
Lowry Park Zoo has been voted the number one family friendly zoo in America by Child Magazine. Of course they probably mean when man-eating tigers aren’t wilding around the Asian display.
I wonder how the zoo would score on the animal friendly scale? It pains me to even ask because I have always loved that zoo. My daughter spent several fascinating and fun-filled weeks at the zoo school this summer. But even I would have to side with the relatives of Enshalla the Sumatran Tiger should they bring a wrongful death suit against the zoo. Enshalla never had kids so we’re probably talking about her litter-mates as complainants, wherever they are.
If you don’t know already, Enshalla the tiger was shot and killed the other day after waltzing out of the night house she was being transferred into for the evening. I’m sure there are many more facts to be revealed about this case but it seems clear that human error lead to her death. Somebody didn’t lock the door to the night house.
Indications in the St. Pete Times are that a zookeeper now on leave was responsible for the error. The paper raised questions about the training the zookeeper received at the zoo prior to the event that lead to Enshala’s death. There are also indications in the Tampa Tribune that the zoo will seek another Sumatran tiger. At the very least, the judge in the tiger’s wrongful death case should grant an injunction against further tigers being introduced to the zoo before the training and safety protocol programs can be evaluated.
I am still in favor of zoos for the time being. But I’m going to have to see some evidence that zoos have helped endangered animal populations and protected others from decline. I’m also going to need to see the numbers suggesting that zoos open to the public are necessary and humane, as opposed to alternatives such as private, closed breeding and study programs.
And yes, I know that tigers don’t have standing to file lawsuits but in this case, they should.
Tags: education, environment, incredible, tampa, tourism
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August 25th, 2006 at 12:18 am
I dunno if it’s family-friendly, but it is a good place to drop acid.
August 25th, 2006 at 6:12 am
It seems the zoo keeper will face misdemeaner charges.
And the song was a riot, who was that? was it you Tim?
August 25th, 2006 at 9:29 am
The park is doing a great job of keeping a lid on things. A suggestion to the park management…two words, tranquilizer darts.
August 25th, 2006 at 9:46 am
Zoos suck
August 25th, 2006 at 11:27 am
A suggestion to the park management…two words, tranquilizer darts.
It’s my understanding that tranquilizer darts were used and didn’t work, only turning the tiger more “agitated.”
And the song was a riot, who was that? was it you Tim?
On the advice of my lawyer, I unfortunately cannot admit that alcohol-fueled performance at the Pegasus Lounge in June, 2005 is me.
October 1st, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Tranquilizer darts were used, but then Enshalla (the tiger) tried to attack the vet who gave it to her. Then one of the guys shot Enshalla once to stop her, it stunned her and she started moving away, then the idiot shot her three more times in order to kill her. He sucks, I may never go to that zoo again.