I recall seeing video of a young boy that fell into a gorilla enclosure at a zoo, and was knocked unconscious. One mother gorilla stood vigil over him until he could be rescued. "Dumb" animals, indeed!
Bruce, I haven't done this yet but.... I'll bet you a week's pay I can come up with a 2 to 1 ratio of stories about "zoo accidents and children" where the zoo animals tore the little tyke(s) to pieces when given the opportunity to do so.
Depends on the animal. Someone in a polar bear cage is as good as dead, other animals (especially primates) probably wouldn't attack unless provoked.
I'd be willing to bet that stories on both sides of this question would be more complete if they included the time of the "incident" relative to the animals last meal. Perhaps the humans proximity to the animals offspring would be a factor as well. Jack
I nominate Carl to go to a number of zoos and enter the cages of the various animals and report to us either from here or the great beyond.
Re: Re: Breaking into an enclosure at the zoo not required. I don't want to give the impression I encourage human interaction with wild animals, actually quite the opposite. Anyone who fools with a tiger shouldn't be shocked when they end up as the main course for dinner.
Re: Breaking into an enclosure at the zoo not required. I looked for the "sadly" story earlier when Jimmy posted the original -- I'm glad you posted it. Purposeful interaction is not a good idea. Here's another. Not a lion or tiger, but also sad. Man Mauled by Chimps
Re: Re: Re: Breaking into an enclosure at the zoo not required. I've been impressed with the abilities of cats since I was a child. And that was tabbies. A toothless, clawless tiger can still kill a human with a swat or two. Ever see pictures of people standing with ligers?
I've heard horror stories from my buddies who hunt out west that even if they inflict a mortal shot on an attacking bear, the darn things have such a slow heartrate that they actually live for at least a minute after they are technically "dead" - just long enough to tear you into small pieces in a death rage..... One of these buddies carried an Army 45 in a holster with him when he went hunting under the premise that if he was surprised by a grizzly he'd get off a shot between the eyes (on the bear!) faster than he could bring his rifle into action. Sounds kind of dumb to me..... Wouldn't recommend it!
This might raise the question, "Should people be allowed to keep wild animals?" I ask this because many of these attacks are by wild animals privately owned that attack and maim or kill. Minnesota has been in the news lately concerning tigers and lions that have killed after escaping from their owners. Other stories relate how pythons and boas kill small children while on the loose. Personally, I would ban such ownership which actually goes against my libertarian inklings but public safety is a function of government.
Exactly what I was thinking. A guy I served in the Army with is now a guide in Alaska for bear hunts. If the client misses and/or panics, it's up to him to put down a charging bear. He uses a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, 18" barrel, ghost-ring sights, loaded with Federal 3" rifled, hollow-point slugs. At the distances he's shooting (less than 25 yards), he believes there is no more effective round available. Short of a flamethrower, I agree with him.
