Regards, Ivan
Posted on 08/02/2004 1:33:09 AM PDT by MadIvan
PICNICKERS in New York fled for their lives at the weekend after a circus tiger escaped from its enclosure and prowled across the city.
The white tiger, named Apollo, embarked on a half-mile stroll after his trainers tried unsuccessfully to transfer him between cages.
When the two enclosures accidentally separated, the 450lb feline took his chance for freedom and set about exploring the bustling Queens area of New York.
His journey took him through streets and a park where he strolled nonchalantly past a church choir picnic before he was noticed.
As people fled, police and circus officials tried desperately to return him to his cage, with little success.
He was eventually recaptured after his the breakout on Saturday, but not before his presence caused a multi-car accident on a main city thoroughfare. Four adults and one child suffered minor injuries in the crash.
When Apollo later stopped to rest on a nearby street, six armed police officers created a perimeter around the cat, local police chief, Captain John Durkin confirmed. The tiger’s trainer arrived and eventually coaxed it back to its cage.
"They did some type of signal, and the tiger jumped into the cage," Capt Durkin said.
"The tiger was taken into custody without incident."
The Florida-based Cole Bros Circus, which owns Apollo, was later cited for creating an animal nuisance. Circus officials have declined to comment on the incident.
After the escape, picknickers told how mayhem descended on their tranquil church gathering after the tiger was spotted just metres away.
"I just looked at it and ran. Circus people were yelling, telling us not to run," said picnicker Raynalda Milford, 36.
"Queens is not the place for white tigers. There were tons of people around. Thank God nothing happened."
The hunt was less controversial than a similar incident which also took place in the United States last month.
An 800lb tiger belonging to a former Tarzan actor was shot by police marksmen on July 13 in Florida after it scaled a 12-foot wall to escape its compound.
The six-year-old Bengal-Siberian mix, named Bobo, owned by former King of the Jungle star Steve Sipek, was shot the day after it escaped from a five-acre sanctuary at Loxahatchee, 15 miles west of Palm Beach.
The New York incident is not the first time police have had to handle a tiger in the city. Last October, police and animal control officers removed a nearly 600-pound tiger and a five-foot long alligator from a Manhattan apartment.
Captain Durkin said the bizarre spate of incidents involving tigers have left their mark on his force.
"Police have no special training on how to deal with tigers," he said. "Based on this tiger and the last tiger, we may have to incorporate something into our training."
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Doesn't this "Jock" know that Queens is a county/borough with several neighborhoods and about 2 million people. Don't mean to be so anal but he could have been more specific.
If this happened in Forest Hills, it would've put a damper on Sylvia and Shiela's coffee klatch. If it happened in Jamaica, the local "yutes" would have tried to take it in as a pet to keep their pit bull company. If it happened in Jackson Heights, it would be on the menu of a restaurant on 71st and Roosevelt by that evening.
Another Bush failure. Ashcroft's unconstitutional Patriot Act should have prevented this.
One of these lil' guys, maybe?
http://www.colebroscircus.com/tigers.htm
I'm a huge cat fan- these are some beautiful animals.
Don't you just hate it when your tiger won't listen?
Maybe they should have tried the squirt bottle trick. :^)
Another post had the Newsday story putting it at the Forest Park entrance to the Interboro (Now Jackie Robinson) Parkway. (Myrtle Avenue and Interboro Parkway.) He's writing for the Scotsman. Queens is 89 square miles and 2,000,000 people. For most folks that's plenty specific enough.
I nominate this one as an honorary Viking Kitty.
It's been a few years since I last visited New York - and (surprise, surprise! *L*), I stayed in Queens.
Have to say, if I'd seen a tiger nonchalently walking down the street, I'd have probably thought it was 'just another of those New York things'. I'd have thought it was one of those every day occurences that make New York such a fantastic place.
And that isn't such a fun road to drive on normally!
TS
Too funny -- and true!
Hard to tell if they were serious or not, hey, they were all smiling and wore those funny pants, enormous shoes, the little flower pot hat and those big red noses...
These are the same people who send cash to radical eco-fascists and support the release of mountain lions, grizzly bears and wolves in rural America. And if these animals eat livestock, pets and people, well, that's just "cute" and the animals are doing their thing.
I'm completely in favor of releasing large carnivores in the city of New York. This tiger should have caused no panic or problem in the city and should have been allowed to eat his way through the citizenry. The citizens should have encouraged the release of other animals so they can experience nature up close and applauded as pets and small children were taken off into the bushes to get their tongues eaten out.
It did happen in Forest Hills.
Once the borough president manages to get the smell out, I'll be sure to visit there more often.
Heh, heh, heh.
"King" of Queens:
Oh no! It's on barley boy! Yuuahhhhssspa!
LOL
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