Seigfreid and Roy Tiger Attack.

[SpunGirl]

Here's what happened:

Friday night at their usual show at the Mirage, one of the tigers wasn't doing what Roy wanted it to do. He yanked on its chain, and it snarled at him. He bopped it on the nose with his microphone, and it lunged at him, biting him hard in the neck and shoulder. It dragged him offstage in this position.

He's in critical condition, clearly he lost a lot of blood, and he had a seizure this morning. They're saying even if he makes it he might be a vegetable forever, and the Mirage told all the employees of the show to go look for new jobs.

Personally, I think it's a hilarious tragedy (if there is such a thing). It sucks for Roy, but I don't know what he expected, whacking a tiger on the nose like that. You can train those guys all you want, but at the end of the day they're still wild animals who don't understand shit about being onstage in Las Vegas.

-K

[Tsa`ah]

Interesting how you say "hilarious tragedy".

My wife pretty much echoed the sentiment. While I feel empathy for the both of them, I can't help being indifferent. It was bound to happen.

Another snippet I found interesting. On stage they commented that it was the tiger's first show. This was apparently part of the act; the tiger was a show veteran.

[SpunGirl]

Yep, apparently they say that in every show to get the attention of the audience. The tiger had apparently been doing the show for 7 of the 14 years they've been a permanent fixture at the Mirage.

-K

[DCSL]

I can't say I feel too much sympathy. When you lose so much respect for a wild, deadly creature that you whack it on the nose with a mike... well, I think that's asking for it. It is sad that it happened to anyone at all, but it was entirely his own fault in my opinion.

[longshot]

I heard he whacked it on the nose to try to get it away when the tiger lunged at him.

He's had surgery twice now, and he was able to give a "thumbs up".

It does sucks for the people who lost their jobs. Seigfried and Roy have enough money that they can retire and shove an entire gerbil farm up eachother's asses. I'm assuming the other people working the show are not so fortunate.

[Ben]

I want a tiger.

[Ben]

TROUBLE IN 'PARADISE'

By LARRY CELONA, LORENA MONGELLI and ANGELINA CAPPIELLO

October 6, 2003 -- The Harlem man who was mauled by his 400-pound tiger when he brought home a kitten said yesterday he dreamed of creating his very own Garden of Eden.
Antoine Yates, 37, was in police custody in a Philadelphia hospital last night, recovering from the attack by his larger feline friend.

He's facing an extradition hearing today to return him to New York, where he will face charges of reckless endangerment and possible animal cruelty after cops found Ming, a 20-month-old Siberian-Bengal-mix tiger, in his apartment.

Authorities said the tiger had lived there since he was just a cub.

"I realized this is my calling in life," an unrepentant Yates told a Philadelphia TV station from his hospital bed.

"I am trying to create a Garden of Eden, something this world lacks."

Yates - who also kept a 3-foot caiman, an alligator-like reptile, named Al in the apartment - said he had applied to the Bronx Zoo for a job but then decided to create his own private animal paradise called "Paws and Claws."



Meanwhile, Yates' live-in lover, Carolyn Domingo, 49, said he also has an upstate abode where he keeps other creatures - like "camel, oxen and zebras" - although she said she didn't know where it was.

Domingo said the pair had tried to find a proper home for the tiger, but "he just grew up too fast."

Neighbors in Yates' housing complex on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard said he had kept other animals there over the years.

"He's had hyenas, monkeys and snakes. He was a big reptile fan," said Wanda Tompkins, 26.

Yates showed up at Harlem Hospital with severe bites to his arm and leg on Wednesday, which he claimed were from a pit bull.

But suspicious doctors called authorities, who had already received a tip telling them there was a wild animal in the Harlem building.

Cops tracked Yates to the Philadelphia hospital.

Yates said his big pet attacked when he tried to stop him from charging a little black kitten which he had brought home.

"He tore my leg down to the bone. I was like, 'Ming, no, no!' After that, I told him to go into the bathroom," said Yates.

Cops Saturday scaled down the building walls and fired a tranquilizer dart into the apartment's window to hit the tiger.

While his owner is in custody, Ming is beginning a new life of relative freedom at the Noah's Ark Sanctuary in Ohio. He's being kept in a cage there temporarily because handlers said he's "agitated."

The caiman went to a sanctuary in Indiana.

[Red Devil]

I want a tiger too, but i want the tiger that mauled roy

[Tsa`ah]

Maybe we would get lucky and the tiger would be a repeat offender.

[Red Devil]

Naw, the tiger is gonna end up dead and stuffed, :(

[theotherjohn]

Tigers point of view.

Damn another day
Man I am hungry
This sucks! I hate doing this stupid shit
Man I am hungry
Hey wait... I am a bad ass Tiger
ROAR!
yum human neck tastes like chicken

[Ben]

I doubt they'll kill the tiger, They're endangered.

[Weedmage Princess]

Heh...I pretty much feel the same as the lot of you. This banana is hitting the tiger on it's nose, yanking the chain, generally agitating it....and we're supposed to feel sorry for him? Hmm. Well...I don't. He would have had been a total moron if he didn't realize the risks he was taking. Play with fire, you get burned sometimes?

[GSLeloo]

I just saw a report that because of that tiger attack, 267 employees of Siegfried and Roy's lost their job.

[JustMe]

Hmm, from what I heard on the radio he stumbled and the tiger came at him when he did, so he started hitting the tiger with the microphone to get it off of him. Not sure which version is true, either way, I feel sympathetic for him and everyone that lost their jobs.

[SpunGirl]

There were a few eyewitness reports quoted in the paper saying that he yanked the chain, it snarled, he bopped, then it bit his arm, then he really started whacking it with the microphone... then it lunged.

The news article Ben posted shows precisely what problems are caused by shows like this. I'm not blaming it on the Seigfreids and Roys of the world, who actually have a decent breeding/trianing program, but the idiots who think the stuffed tigers sold in the shop translate into thinking it's a good idea to get a tiger of their own. Yes, this would have happened eventually since they were making the tigers part of their nightly men-in-tights festival, but at least they take care of their animals in the correct conditions.

And the show has been cancelled through the end of 2003. I seriously doubt they'll mount a comeback. I'm just waiting for someone to leak the video to the news stations.

-K

[Edited on 10-6-2003 by SpunGirl]

[Back]

Tigers are best seen on PBS or Discovery, filmed in their natural habitat. And yes, they are on the verge of extinction... the only interaction between tigers and men I can support is actively trying to protect and repopulate, even if the men are trying to make money at it.

Hate to say it, and I am sure they took good care of those tigers... but Roy, what the fuck?

I'm on the tiger's side in this scenario.

[Edited on 10-6-2003 by Backlash]

[peam]

I don't think the offending tiger is going to be put down.

According to news reports today, Roy requested that the tiger not be killed as he was being taken away. While I don't particuarly agree with the whole tiger deal, I do think that says a lot of the man's character and respect for the animals.

[Parkbandit]

I despise going to the zoo or circus. While I realize they have their place in our society.. I would much rather the animals be free.

I think that keeping wild animals in cages or on stage to entertain humans is barbaric.

[GS4Gurl]

I guess I am more sensative than most of you. I think it is horrible what happened to him. He is a wonderful caring person and for people to be so callus.. anyway... whatever.

I've seen Roy Horn in person. He was in the Secret Garden talking to one of his white lions.. other people on the other side of the fence with me saw him too. And it was just a beautiful gentle scene. He loves those animals more than anything. He wants other people to have the chance to see these wonderful creatures in person too, without having to watch them on T.V.

No animals shouldn't be made into a side show act but, getting the chance to see these beautiful animals in person is simply breathtaking and you learn a newfound respect and adoration where you wouldn't just by watching on T.V.

And I heard a different story about what happened... he didn't YANK the tigers chain. He tugged gently, the tiger nudged him with his head and then bit his arm... he used the mic to get him off, not even hitting him hard then, but the tiger wouldnt budge. The tiger then let go and grabbed his neck and drug him off stage. I'm just going by what a person who was THERE and saw it, said.

As Roy was being taken to the ambulance he kept saying, "Don't kill the cat". Nevermind that blood was gushing from him and he was literally dying in the process.

They KNOW full well the risks. They aren't stupid. They've said many a time. They know what can and will happen and it wouldnt be the animals fault for simply reacting as an animal would.

[GS4Gurl]

Here's a few pics of the day I went to The Secret Garden. I have a pic of Mr. Horn talking to his Lions, but out of respect I wont post it.

Ahh a nap in a cool pond.
http://members.cox.net/celestynne4/sgtiger.jpg

Out for a stroll.
http://members.cox.net/celestynne4/sgtiger2.jpg

Who's your daddy.... (lick, lick)
http://members.cox.net/celestynne4/sglion.jpg

In my opinion beautiful creatures like this are better off in a safe, comfortable environment such as this than going extinct because some jackass wants their fur. In fact the only ones that exist are these or ones in zoo's. Zoo's probably don't take as well care of them as Seigfried and Roy take care of theirs.

[Edited on 10-9-2003 by GS4Gurl]

[Betheny]

I honestly feel bad for the guy.

I doubt that he would mistreat his animals.

He's dedicated his life to them.

[Neildo]

I despise going to the zoo or circus. While I realize they have their place in our society.. I would much rather the animals be free.

I think that keeping wild animals in cages or on stage to entertain humans is barbaric.

Nature is barbaric. I guarantee you, any animal in a zoo, circus, or show, would have been dead many years ago. And that's taking human hunters out of the equation as well.

I love when people say how nature is peaceful and loving and such. Sure, maybe in the Garden of Eden. Who would want to be a mother only to have your little animal kids snatched and eaten right before your eyes? Having to walk about all paranoid in fear of being killed any second. And then having to wander around looking for food to survive.

I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be on some ranch or other sanctuary knowing full well I'm safe and chillin with other similar animals of my type. Getting spoiled here and there by my owner. The only animals I feel sorry for are trained elephants as those are the ones that take a beating.

Basically look at it like this. An animal in nature is like a human bum barely trying to survive. Wandering here and there to find safe shelter, food, and migrate. Then animals that are pets are more like a normal human. We're already enslaved working here and there barely getting to see the world due to our hectic schedules. Only time we get to be free is on vacation or our days off. Otherwise it's eat, sleep, and work, sort of like a trained animal. So if you feel sorry for those trained animals, feel sorry for ourselves too. ;)

And yeah, I feel sorry for Roy too. He loved his animals and it was his passion. But hey, it was bound to happen sooner or later as well and I'm sure he knew that. I'm glad he didn't put the tiger to sleep. Hopefully he'll recover well and can continue with his work.. even if it may no longer be the supershow that it once was.

- N

[GS4Gurl]

That's exactly what I was trying to say myself Neildo. The pics of the cats in the Secret Garden look pretty content to me. Laid back and chillin in a pond or gettin friendly with the lady lions, ya know. heh.

I happened to catch the last few minutes of Larry King Live lastnight where he was interviewing Seigfried. Seigfried says they'll be back together on stage and Roy is doing much better. This is their life and this is all they know, of course they'll keep going as long as they can.

On another note someone brought up about where's Seigfried going to find another gay lion tamer. Um, wtf does ones sexual preferences have to do with anything? And I thought we weren't supposed to make such references to gay bashing or similiar slurs on these boards? Besides it's just tacky.

Don't hate.:rolleyes:

[Edited on 10-9-2003 by GS4Gurl]

[CrystalTears]

Fine. I deleted my post. Happy? It was just a joke and it wasn't even aimed at anyone here, just at a couple of men. Lighten up.

I guess this means I can't call Ellen Degeneres gay either? :rolleyes:

[Edited on 10/10/2003 by CrystalTears]

[Neildo]

I just hate the gay this, gay that, stuff people bring up because it's so late 90's. If ya wanna be comical or hurl an insult, use something more original.

- N

[CrystalTears]

It was just a joke and not an insult. I'm not fond of people calling others gay for the sake of it, but calling a spade a spade is not an insult. But I don't want to turn this into a discussion about gay people. I'm just thankful that Roy is okay and they may be able to get back to working. They were an entertaining couple and it would have been sad to see that falter sooner than it needed to be.

[GS4Gurl]

Oh no... yeah if a person is gay it isn't bad to say their gay. We all know Ellen is gay.. Ellen knows Ellen is gay. It was just the connotation it was used that kind of bothered me a little. Since the poor fella is like in a hospital and I didn't think gay jokes were really appropriate at the time, in my opinion. It isn't a big deal just kind of ooooold like Neildo explained. Thats all. :)