Old man in BA almost killed...by a LIGER!

[Okla-homey]

:eek:


Handler is mauled by big cat
By TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer
10/30/2008

BROKEN ARROW — An animal handler at a wildlife refuge was mauled by a big cat during a feeding Wednesday.

The attack occurred shortly before noon at Safari's Animal Sanctuary, 26881 E. 58th St., emergency responders said.

The handler, identified as Peter Getz, 32, was attacked by a liger, a hybrid of a lion and a tigress.

Getz, who suffered a puncture wound to his neck, was flown by helicopter to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Fire Department officials said.

He was listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Deputy Fire Chief James Suddath said: "He was bitten on the neck during a feeding, but he was able to escape the cage. He collapsed after he got out."

Paramedics performed CPR on Getz, Suddath said.

Wagoner County sheriff's deputies also responded.

A deputy said a Haskell Public Schools class was on a field trip at the sanctuary but did not witness the attack.

The refuge was immediately evacuated and locked down, with the liger, named Rocky, and other animals remaining in their pens, officials said.

Sanctuary officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

The sanctuary, a nonprofit wildlife refuge, houses about 200 animals, most of which were donated by private owners, according to its Web site.

All of its staff members are volunteers.

The refuge is licensed and regulated through the Oklahoma Wildlife Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is subject to the same rules as public zoos.

Officials said regulatory officials had been notified about the incident.

In 2000, two handlers at the sanctuary were bitten by a black bear.


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[Hot Rod]

OUCH!

[Viking Kitten]

It's still pretty much my favorite animal.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Dude...I get manhandled by a cougar every night...how is this liger stuff news?

[OKC-SLC]

Dude...I get manhandled by a cougar every night...how is this liger stuff news?

heh.

[Okla-homey]

Dude...I get manhandled by a cougar every night...how is this liger stuff news?

meh. cougars are, by definition, hawt.

[Taxman71]

But was your cougar bred for its skills in magic?

[Boomer.....]

True story.

My wife and I visited that wildlife refuge about a year ago. We were at the Liger cage by ourselves. He was pacing back and forth watching us. Just then it happened. He pissed on us. Actually it was just my wife because I saw it coming and did a Matrix move just to get out of the way. I guess he was trying to mark his territory but man did it stink. I told my wife, Hey look on the bright side. How many people can say that a Liger pissed on them. :D

[Taxman71]

True story.

My wife and I visited that wildlife refuge about a year ago. We were at the Liger cage by ourselves. He was pacing back and forth watching us. Just then it happened. He pissed on us. Actually it was just my wife because I saw it coming and did a Matrix move just to get out of the way. I guess he was trying to mark his territory but man did it stink. I told my wife, Hey look on the bright side. How many people can say that a Liger pissed on them. :D


They charge extra for that in Bangkok....I'm just sayin.

[SoonerStormchaser]

True story.

My wife and I visited that wildlife refuge about a year ago. We were at the Liger cage by ourselves. He was pacing back and forth watching us. Just then it happened. He pissed on us. Actually it was just my wife because I saw it coming and did a Matrix move just to get out of the way. I guess he was trying to mark his territory but man did it stink. I told my wife, Hey look on the bright side. How many people can say that a Liger pissed on them. :D

And I bet this happened as a result:
http://37prime.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/3403a.jpg
Was Sammy Hagar playing as well?

[JohnnyMack]

Anything that happens to this guy shall be assessed with my Limited Sympathy Clause. Do I feel bad? I guess. But come on, you were kind of asking for it.

[StoopTroup]

It's still pretty much my favorite animal.

What restaurant do you get it at?

[frankensooner]

If a Liger wizzes on you, you should immediately buy a lottery ticket, just sayin.

[StoopTroup]

If a Liger wizzes on you, you should immediately buy a lottery ticket, just sayin.

If that worked...

Could you imagine the money Safari Joes could take in? :D

[bri]

A deputy said a Haskell Public Schools class was on a field trip at the sanctuary but did not witness the attack.

And thus, a Haskell Public Schools class was deprived of THE BEST F*CKING FIELD TRIP EVER. :D

[frankensooner]

In 9th grade we took a field trip to Kansas City and while driving through a shady area we saw some bikers. 1%'ers They saw the school bus and started kissing each other. (These were big scary doods too) I know they did it to freak us out, it did, and it made for a memorable field trip.

[StoopTroup]

It wasn't....

http://images.vimeo.com/90/30/48/90304886/90304886_640x360.jpg

Was it?

[olevetonahill]

Dude...I get manhandled by a cougar every night...how is this liger stuff news?

But By the time there that old they dont have any teeth or claws :P

[SoonerStormchaser]

So?

That means I don't get hurt!

[SicEmBaylor]

Did the liger have large talons?

[Okla-homey]

The guy died in hospital last night around 8pm. :(

The story has gone national. It was mentioned on Today this morning.

Now, the debate centers on whether the cat should be put down. I say no. He was doing what millions of years of instinctive hardwiring prompted him to do.

[Boomer.....]

There is no need to put down the Liger. He is a wild animal put in a caged environment. Do they really expect him to be domesticated all of the sudden?

[Desert Sapper]

Why would you put down an animal for attacking their 'handler'? Everybody that deals with wild animals knows the risk.

[Viking Kitten]

:(

Terrible the guy died, but no, I don't think the animal should be put down.

I wonder if the animal sanctuary needs to re-think its safety protocols during feeding time? Maybe its volunteers had become complacent and forgot they were dealing with wild animals?

[TUSooner]

I say we treat the cat like a human killer: Go ahead and condemn the cat, but find some pro-bono lawyer or public defender to handle the appeals and habeas corpus petitions. By the time the litigation is over, the cat will have died of natural causes.

[Crimsontothecore]

I say we treat the cat like a human killer: Go ahead and condemn the cat, but find some pro-bono lawyer or public defender to handle the appeals and habeas corpus petitions. By the time the litigation is over, the cat will have died of natural causes.

But don't you agree that subjecting the poor animal to our legal system is more cruel than if he were just shot?

[Boomer.....]

:(

Terrible the guy died, but no, I don't think the animal should be put down.

I wonder if the animal sanctuary needs to re-think its safety protocols during feeding time? Maybe its volunteers had become complacent and forgot they were dealing with wild animals?

The handlers were very personal with almost all of the animals including the tigers. I remember them saying that they used to chain a tiger to a post in the middle of the park and let people pet it. This went on for a while until they realized how dangerous it could be. Most of the animals were raised there so they are more calm than wild animals but you still have to take caution.

[TUSooner]

But don't you agree that subjecting the poor animal to our legal system is more cruel than if he were just shot?

Well, the cat is essentially in jail anyway, and it won't have to make any court appearances, so it probably won't notice much difference. :)

[JohnnyMack]

I say we treat the cat like a human killer: Go ahead and condemn the cat, but find some pro-bono lawyer or public defender to handle the appeals and habeas corpus petitions. By the time the litigation is over, the cat will have died of natural causes.

Homey, you busy?

[OU-HSV]

I've lived in B.A. pretty much all of my life. We took my son to this safari for the first time this past spring/summer. It was the first time for me to go there as well. It is truly an awesome place. They let you feed the cats through two sections of chainlink fence using PVC pipe and chicken legs. They have more animals than just big cats.
In my opinion that safari is better to visit than the Tulsa zoo because you get to see the animals up close, yet you're still safely seperated from them. The Tulsa zoo seems to me like it hasn't changed since I was my son's age. Not to mention the zoo always has tons of exhibits that aren't even open.

From the reports I've read this week and from the owner's Myspace page it sounds like the worker that died just made an accidental unsafe move while feeding the Liger. Something about not using both gates/fences in the way they were trained to use them to keep a safe distance. He should have known better, but it's still sad the guy lost his life.
It's a damn shame, cause the dude died and more than likely from my understanding they will probably be forced to put the cat down. But these are wild animals and he was holding raw meat, so it's probably only natural instincts for the cat to attack if he's face to face with a human holding raw meat. (and the owner touches on that on her myspace page).

Anyways, I hope they don't shut down because of this. It really is a great place for kids (and adults) to visit and I never felt unsafe at all while we were there, or else I wouldn't plan to go back.

[Crimsontothecore]

I've lived in B.A. pretty much all of my life. We took my son to this safari for the first time this past spring/summer. It was the first time for me to go there as well. It is truly an awesome place. They let you feed the cats through two sections of chainlink fence using PVC pipe and chicken legs. They have more animals than just big cats.
In my opinion that safari is better to visit than the Tulsa zoo because you get to see the animals up close, yet you're still safely seperated from them. The Tulsa zoo seems to me like it hasn't changed since I was my son's age. Not to mention the zoo always has tons of exhibits that aren't even open.

From the reports I've read this week and from the owner's Myspace page it sounds like the worker that died just made an accidental unsafe move while feeding the Liger. Something about not using both gates/fences in the way they were trained to use them to keep a safe distance. He should have known better, but it's still sad the guy lost his life.
It's a damn shame, cause the dude died and more than likely from my understanding they will probably be forced to put the cat down. But these are wild animals and he was holding raw meat, so it's probably only natural instincts for the cat to attack if he's face to face with a human holding raw meat. (and the owner touches on that on her myspace page).

Anyways, I hope they don't shut down because of this. It really is a great place for kids (and adults) to visit and I never felt unsafe at all while we were there, or else I wouldn't plan to go back.

I totally agree. I've been there many times and it's much better than the zoo. Many times the animals at the zoo are out of sight as opposed to Safaris where you stand only a few feet from the big animals. I've never felt it was unsafe either.

[bri]

Peter Getz didn't feel it was unsafe, either.

I'll stick to actual zoos, kthx.

[Phil]

The cat was just being a cat. Not his fault, and no reason he should be put down. Same as those dogs in the beastiality porn case in Tulsa.

[SicEmBaylor]

Same as those dogs in the beastiality porn case in Tulsa.

Come again?

[bri]

The cat was just being a cat. Not his fault, and no reason he should be put down. Same as those dogs in the beastiality porn case in Tulsa.


Come again?

She certainly did.

Zang.

[KC//CRIMSON]

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/liverpool2/SiegfriedRoyTiger.gif



Too soon?

[SoonerStormchaser]

Nope...

[OU-HSV]

Peter Getz didn't feel it was unsafe, either.

I'll stick to actual zoos, kthx.

Yeah well, for some reason the other day Peter didn't think it was unsafe to be in the cage with the Liger....I would never get in the cage with any of those cats.

There's a big difference here. As a customer, walking around a safari looking at animals who are caged in...where between you and the animal at all times is at least 2 secure sections of tall chain link fence, well that's safe.

Getting in the actual cage with those animals while holding raw meat (or just getting in there with them period), well that's just not using common sense, and that's obviously extremely dangerous.

My wife and I saw pictures of the Peter guy on the news last night. Kind of weird, he's acually the guy who put on their reptile show when we took our son there. Showed off a python, and various lizards. He actually got in the crocodile cage while we were there and he fed the crocodile. But the guy was very nice, intelligent with/about the animals, very informative as to why only trained people should handle the animals. I'm very surprised that he felt a need to get in the cage with the Liger the other day, he sure seemed to know what to do or not to do with the animals.

[Okla-homey]

this morning, the paper has a piece suggesting the deceased Mr. Getz fancied himself as some sort of "Grizzly Man."

[OU-HSV]

this morning, the paper has a piece suggesting the deceased Mr. Getz fancied himself as some sort of "Grizzly Man."

That's a bit scary. If that's true that would explain why he had the false confidence to go into the cage w/the Liger.