Emergency 911 Tapes of SF Zoo Tiger Attacks Released
Less than a week after the fatal tiger mauling at the SF Zoo, much of the news that has (slowly) unraveled from the Christmas Day tiger attacks has been disheartening. From the downplayed info about the too-short tiger pen fence, conflicting evidence that the three boys taunted the Siberian tiger just before the attack, and that emergency protocol wasn't followed by SF Zoo employees, there are more chin-scratching facts to add to the list. Take, for example, the lack of concern the two brothers felt for their dead friend, Carlos. According to a law enforcement source, as the brothers were being transported from the zoo to the hospital, "one brother told the other not to talk to anyone." The source went on to say that "they were more concerned with their car in the parking lot and that it would be okay." (Sure, people have different reactions in time of grief, but still: Ouch.)
In more news, 911 tapes were released on Friday. According to SF Examiner:
Emergency personnel were first notified at 5:08 p.m. when a Terrace Café employee called 911 saying an "agitated man is claiming he was bitten by an animal," according to the transcript.The two brothers attacked were initially considered mentally unstable by zoo personnel and "making something up" about a tiger biting one of them, the transcript says.
The transcript depicts a scene quickly descending into fear when at 5:11 p.m. the transcript read, "The tiger is out of the gate and they are locking up the zoo."
At 5:20 p.m., personnel are advised that the scene is not safe, and at 5:22 a call technician takes a call from one of the Dhaliwal brothers, saying his brother was bit by a tiger.
Just a minute later he hung up his phone, according to the transcript.
At 5:25, a Taraval officer has the tiger directly in front of him, but then a minute later the tiger disappears.
At 5:27 officers found the tiger attacking its third victim at the Terrace Café and shot it.
In all fairness to the SF zoo cafe employee who placed the emergency call, we have to wonder if he assumed the brothers were part of some Jackassian prank. Still, the employee had to wits to call 911, which might have helped prevent further bloodshed Tuesday night at the SF Zoo.
The two brothers - who, it seems, have requested no photos taken of them by media outlets - are scheduled to leave San Francisco General Hospital later today.
Image of Tatiana from AP/SF Zoo.