Erschienen in:
01.01.2016 | Case Report
Two fatal tiger attacks in zoos
verfasst von:
Britta Tantius, Daniel Wittschieber, Sven Schmidt, Markus A. Rothschild, Sibylle Banaschak
Erschienen in:
International Journal of Legal Medicine
|
Ausgabe 1/2016
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Abstract
Two captive tiger attacks are presented that took place in Cologne and Münster zoos. Both attacks occurred when the handlers, intent on cleaning the enclosures, entered whilst the tigers accidently retained access to the location, and thus defended their territory against the perceived intruders. Both victims suffered fatal neck injuries from the bites. At Münster, colleagues managed to lure the tiger away from its victim to enable treatment, whilst the Cologne zoo tiger had to be shot in order to allow access to be gained. Whilst it was judged that human error led to the deaths of the experienced zookeepers, the investigation in Münster was closed as no third party was found to be at fault, whereas the Cologne zoo director was initially charged with being negligent. These charges were subsequently dismissed as safety regulations were found to be up to date.