Denver Zoo Fatality

[tbrown 26]

This wasn't a skydiving incident, but there should be a lesson in the sad double fatality at the Denver Zoo. A panther mauled a keeper to death who shouldn't have been in the cage in the first place (strict zoo policy against humans and big cats ever occupying the same space). Then, as the panther approached the EMTs in a menacing manner, it had to be shot to death. So there's two deaths, a human being who was doing something she shouldn't have been, and a panther who was just doing what panthers do.

I'm willing to bet this was not the first time this keeper had broken the rule against entering a big cat cage. I'm thinking she'd done it before and got away with it, maybe even a whole bunch of times. Sadly not this time....

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. That's the lesson we can learn from this tragedy. Let's be safe up there people !

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[wmw999 2,588]

Quote

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence.

This bears repeating, so a bump...

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[McDuck 0]

I used to volunteer as a trainer at an endangered species park, and we worked with big cats. We were always taught that you could 1) never let them try to play with you the way they play with each other (at 5 times the muscle strength of a trained athlete, pound for pound, they can hurt you without even trying); 2) never enter the habitat just before or earlier than about 4 hours after feeding time; 3) never turn your back on the cats, as these type of animals prefer to pounce from behind; and 4) never enter without the steel grass rake and spray-bottle solution of vinegar and water (it's a strong smell that causes them to flinch and stop advancing, generally accompanied by the loudest "NO" you can muster).

I was "investigated" once by a young lion who decided to bowl the lead trainer over in the habitat and make his way into the "safety area" where I was observing the cleaning of the habitat. Luckily for me he was just interested in checking out the new features of the safety area and just gave me a quick snuffling inspection before moving back into his habitat.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[freeflir29 0]

I had a freezer full of Mountain Lion steaks once. They were tasty. I also have faced down a Mountain Lion at about 25 yds or less. I had a large caliber rifle and a .22 Magnum pistol on me. The .22 would have just made him mad. The .300 Win Mag I had with a 3X9 Leupold scope and no iron sights would have been most likley ineffective at that close range. Moral of the story..........we are in competition for being at the top of the food chain.

[2fat2fly 0]

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I had a freezer full of Mountain Lion steaks once.

we are in competition for being at the top of the food chain.

Sounds like you're winning the competition

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[freeflir29 0]

So far................

[skydiver30960 0]

Lemme get this straight, you felt it was safe to be in an enclosed area with potentially man-eating predators armed only with a garden tool and... well, a bottle of douche?

And people probably think you're nuts for skydiving!

Elvisio "is it for when the tigers get that not-so-fresh feeling" Rodriguez

[billeisele 130]

i did a behind the scenes tour at the Chicago zoo, and have been in a few state and federal prisons - the zoo was definitely the most dangerous place I've every been

at every enclosure there were signs: don't walk here, stay xx feet away from the bars - seems that each animal had learned how to "capture and play" with the staff - the worst were the elephants and monkeys

Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.