1.Malaysian worker dies after being attacked by white tigers at zooBy Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 13 November 2008 1515 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Malaysian contract worker died after being attacked by three white tigers at the Singapore Zoo on Thursday.
The worker has been identified as Nordin Bin Montong. Zoo officials said the 32-year-old had jumped into a moat at the white tiger enclave and was subsequently mauled to death by the white tigers.
Police said they received a report at 12.30pm about a man sustaining neck injuries at the zoo.
Paramedics were called to the scene and Nordin was pronounced dead at 12.45pm.
Biswajit Guha, assistant director, Singapore Zoo, said: "Prior to the incident, the zookeepers had actually noticed that the contract worker was behaving erratically.
"He was throwing things around and as he was walking out of the zoo, he passed comments like 'Goodbye, you won't see me again'.
He later cycled back and 5 minutes later, the alarm went off." Nordin had jumped off the ledge into the water and once he was inside the enclave, the three white tigers mauled him for five to ten minutes, while 20 zookeepers tried desperately to save him by distracting the animals.
They were too late, as were the two licensed rifle shooters who were called to the scene.
As a precautionary measure, the white tiger exhibit has been temporarily closed and the 9-year-old tigers, which came from Indonesia, are in confinement for now.
Zoo officials said once the police finish their investigations, they would examine if there is a need to further enhance safety measures.
They added that it is natural for tigers to pounce on any prey and there is no reason to sedate the animals.
In a statement, the Singapore Zoo said the white tiger enclosure measurements conform to international safety guidelines imposed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Regular animal safety audits are also conducted every month and there is no risk to any visitor or staff at any time.
2. Singapore Zoo assures visitors that white tiger exhibit is safe
By S. Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 14 November 2008 1615 hrs
SINGAPORE: A day after a cleaner was mauled to death at the Singapore Zoo's white tiger enclosure, officials assured the public that the exhibit is "very safe".
It held a news conference on Friday to clear any doubts even as it opened its latest S$12 million attraction.
Business was as usual at the Singapore. Visitors streamed in to view the latest attraction called the Rainforest Kidzworld which opened in time for the school holidays.
Gracing the launch was executive director and CEO of Temasek Holdings, Ms Ho Ching. She said: "The zoo has deepened its own knowledge and expertise through the years. I have full respect for the team at the WildLife Reserves for their hard work, passion and constant care. It is amazing how their dedication and imagination have created a natural and safe wildlife habitat only half an hour away from the city lights."
The chairman of Wildlife Reserves, which owns the zoo, took the opportunity to speak on the incident.
Claire Chiang, non-executive chairman, Wildlife Reserves, said: "Let me take a few minutes to address the unfortunate incident at the white tiger exhibit yesterday. Our sympathies and condolences go to Mr Nordin Bin Montong's family. I would like to reassure all visitors that the white tiger exhibit is very safe and is as safe as any part of the zoo. "The safety measures we have implemented exceed the standards recommended by the association of zoos and aquariums (AZA). AZA is the internationally recognised organisation that accredits only institutions that have achieved rigorous standards for animal care, education, wildlife conservation and science."
Visitors too, didn't seem too concerned about safety.
Aaron Tan, a visitor, said: "The enclosure is actually quite safe as long as you don't go close into the enclosure itself. So I can still bring my kid here."
At a news conference later, zoo officials addressed other concerns raised, including the five-minute response time it took the sharpshooters to reach the scene.
Biswajit Guha, assistant director, Singapore Zoo, said: "The five-minute situation is essentially sufficient to go to a hotspot in the case of an animal escape. This was an extraordinary situation whereby someone had actually jumped in. “Even if it had been a fall and the person was trying very hard to avoid the tigers and had gone to the deep end, we are quite confident he would have been able to move in, in time."
He added that firing tranquilisers would not have saved the cleaner as it could have further provoked the animals.
He added: "Tranquilisers don't work instantaneously. So it will take about five minutes before having an impact on the animal. And to have such a sharp impact coming into contact with an animal, it could provoke the animal more and there might be a more drastic reaction."
Meanwhile, the Singapore Zoo said it will not be stationing armed officers at the enclosures which are deemed dangerous.
But it will definitely be increasing its patrols conducted by the zoo's keepers and operational staff.
Staff who witnessed the incident or need counselling will also be taken care of.
The zoo hopes to re-open the white tiger attraction within the next few days. - CNA/vm
No comments:
Post a Comment