Multicolored Lemur

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Atheist / Agnostic
Nov 23, 2021
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“India” the 9-month, 175-pound tiger from a front yard in Houston, Texas, on May 9, 2021


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Yeah, I like sports and sports bar. And I’ve had a bunch of unproductive discussions with fellow patrons, about their rightwing views which they occasionally bring up. A person has every right to hold these views, even if I don’t.

Sometimes these views are shot through with conspiracy theories. Again, the person has every right to whatever views they wish to hold.

But it’s not very fun for me.

Nor do I feel very productive.

Well, with a guy I had previously talked with (politely), I brought up the issue of big cats such as lions and tigers, and he’s suddenly the most middle-of-the-road guy in the world. He suggested a person should have some kind of training or able to demonstrate some kind of past skills. And he said that within the city limits of a large city like Houston is probably not the place for this.

I’m not saying this conversation would work as well every time, but it sure did on this occasion. :)
 
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Well, with a guy I had previously talked with (politely), I brought up the issue of big cats such as lions and tigers, and he’s suddenly the most middle-of-the-road guy in the world. He suggested a person should have some kind of training or able to demonstrate some kind of past skills. And he said that within the city limits of a large city like Houston is probably not the place for this.
You could've said that owning a big cat is not in the US Constitution. But that wouldn't have been a good convo to have over a drink, imo.

Personally, I don't believe there should definitely be tough regulations in place for someone to own big cats. And I mean regulations that would go towards the safety and support of the animal and the place that the animals are being housed.
 
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July 31, 2004, New York City:

“ . .450-pound white tiger belonging to Adriatic Animal Attractions bolted from the New Cole Bros. Circus while being transferred from one cage to another near the Forest Park bandshell in Queens. Dozens of police officers with machine guns and tranquilizer darts pursued the tiger for 30 minutes as he prowled for a mile through a park crowded with picnickers, scattering screaming people and causing two traffic accidents. He was recaptured by the trainer.

“Two women filed a $60 million lawsuit after suffering spinal fractures and other injuries in the multicar pileup on the Jackie Robinson Parkway.”

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I remember reading about this at the time.

There was even a group of church picnickers! Imagine that, you’re sitting there eating a plate of barbecue brisket and potato salad, or a slice of pecan pie, or whatever it is that you’ve having. And you’re just casually glancing across the wide expanse of the park.

And then, all of a sudden, a tiger walks into view. Not separated by a fence, not separated by nothing. It might take a second to register. Mmm, that shouldn’t be there, you say to yourself.

Running is not the right thing to do, but a very natural reaction. [with a bear, one ranger recommended talking quietly to yourself, really more to keep yourself calm, and trying not to make direct eye contact with the bear. And something like this is probably good advice for a tiger, too]

I remember thinking, all’s well that ends well. The tiger wasn’t aggressive. It just went for a stroll, and then it let its handlers lead it back into a cage.

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I didn’t know about the people potentially seriously injured in the auto accident. That part is sad. Even if the lawyers are jacking up the dollar amount as lawyers often do.
 
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October 3, 2003, Las Vegas:

“ . . While walking a tiger across the stage on a leash, Roy Horn of the Siegfried & Roy casino act was mauled and critically injured by a tiger during a show. The tiger bit Horn on the right arm, then lunged at him, bit him on the neck, and dragged him across the stage in front of more than 1,500 horrified tourists. Horn suffered bite wounds and massive blood loss. The 7-year-old tiger had been performing in the show since he was 6 months old. . ”

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Many somewhat older persons remember this incident at the Siegfried & Roy show. I guess as the years go on, the memories of this will fade [but not as much for the people there especially the employees, please see the next post].

But even with laws pertaining to training and experience, enough space for the animal, etc, shows such as this will likely still meet all the conditions.
 
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“ . . Mantacore’s [the Tiger] ears went noticeably erect. His whiskers became outstretched from his cheeks, and the pupils of his eyes grew large, with a green haze.

“Perhaps not knowing what else to do, Horn put the microphone up to Mantacore’s mouth and asked him if he wanted to say ‘Hello’ to the audience. Instead, the cat snapped and took Horn’s shirtsleeve in his mouth, the performer backing away, saying ‘No’ repeatedly and tapping the cat on the nose with the microphone until Mantacore finally let go. . ”

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But the tiger didn’t go back to normal. And the main attack was still to come.

My summary — the tiger was medium irritated, plus its natural instincts. A lot like a house cat can be, but this tiger was just a much larger animal.
 
None of those incidents are as bad as the one in Zanesville, Ohio, where some 50 exotic animals (lions, cheetahs, bears, tigers, etc) were released them from their enclosure. This occurred in October 2011. The farm owner was 62 year-old Terry Thompson. He released the animals and then committed suicide.

The owner of an exotic animal farm who killed himself after setting his menagerie of tigers, lions, bears and other beasts loose in the Ohio countryside was deep in debt, records show. Thompson's collection of exotic creatures was no secret to neighbors or authorities who were called many times over the years about animals wandering away. But their escape this time was no accident.

Thompson, 62, unleashed them from his private Muskingum County Animal Farm near Zanesville, then shot himself. Authorities had to hunt down and kill or capture the animals as they roamed the rural area, and only one monkey is unaccounted for.

Overall, authorities say Thompson released more than 50 animals from the Muskingum County Animal Farm before killing himself. Dozens of escaped tigers, lions and other beasts were shot by officers.
- NBC news
 
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He released the animals and then committed suicide.
This is a very sad incident.

Most people probably struggle with serious depression (or anxiety) at some time during there lives. And I’d say that more than half of us probably have thoughts of suicide from time to time.

If this is happening to a friend, I’d say the point is to be available to help them without being a goody two-shoes about the whole thing.
 
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From India, Sept. 13, 2022:


‘ . . Archana Choudhary, 25, was letting her toddler relieve himself outdoors when the escaped tiger picked up her child and attempted to walk off.

‘The fact that this mom didn't immediately pass out from shock is amazing. But luckily for this toddler, his mother's first instinct was to conjure up superhuman reflexes and strength to save her baby from the tiger's grip. Choudhary's husband, Bhola, told The Sun, "Rajveer was sitting and Archana was standing nearby. Suddenly, a tiger emerged, picked Rajveer and started walking away. Archana ran after the tiger for about 5 metres, hitting the tiger with her hands to save her son. The tiger left the child and attacked Archana.” . . ’
Good for the mother!

And the mother is in the hospital being treated for a punctured lung and wounds to her abdomen.

Although I should say, I cannot evaluate the accuracy of this news source from India.

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People magazine covered this same incident, although please notice they hedged their bets by saying “ . . Reportedly Fighting Off Tiger . . ” in their title.
 
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