When is a tiger just a tiger?
I have heard from several friends in other states and countries since a Siberian tiger at the San Francisco Zoo killed one young man and injured two others last December. Aside from inquiring whether the victims were anyone I knew (do I know that many dead people now?), there was a decided strain of “what the hell is wrong with you people?” in my friends’ voices.
I chose to answer only their first question and not the second because truthfully I have no idea what is wrong with us, although I could speculate endlessly. Fortunately, my old friend Craig McLaughlin came through recently with an excellent article about tigers in the SF Bay Guardian which, while it doesn’t answer that particular question, does clear up a lot of much more pertinent ones about tiger behavior, tiger pens, and the culpability of zoos.
I highly recommend the article, even if you haven’t been particularly gripped by the tragedy and the ensuing finger-pointing here in the Bay Area. Craig is a hell of a writer and has some great stories to tell, which I hope to read in hardback someday when his memoir ever gets finished. No pressure though, Craig. It’s just that I’m hoping you of all people might have some insight into that pesky question my friends keep asking me.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Although it’s not a popular opinion, I think it’s time we end traditional zookeeping. I think traditional zoos are bad for an animal’s mental health, and humans become strangely complacent (or get their power-over kicks), thinking that they’re safe because the animals are “behind bars”. It’s just unhealthy all the way around.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I remember reading Craig’s drafts about living with the animals years ago… I wish he would finish it, too.
This was a really good article.
And I can’t stand zoos. They just depress me.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:29 am
i felt guilty as my first automatic prayer was for the tiger! I did another for the man killed….
It reminds me of the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, where Calvin suggests a trip to the zoo and Hobbes suggests they visit a prison afterwards!
I guess freeing the animals and ensuring they have a habitat to return to is part of the struggle for the world i want to live in!
January 17th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I don’t like zoos. But I don’t like extinction, either. The choice comes down to tigers in zoos vs. no tigers at all.
Attack by a large predator in a public is an unusual way to die. It doesn’t
happen very often. But it draws huge media attention. Makes us feel good and scared.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Dearest cousin,
The original draft of the article did answer the question: What is wrong with us? As well as the related question: What makes us human? The Guardian edited for length. I kid you not.
Now you will have to wait for the answer until the memoir is published or until one of us visits the other.