SAN FRANCISCO — The director of the San Francisco Zoo brushed off criticism Wednesday that two victims were denied help in the frantic moments after a fatal Christmas Day tiger attack, saying his employees acted heroically.
Meanwhile, authorities said they had discovered an empty vodka bottle in the vehicle the victims drove to the zoo, and were investigating whether alcohol had played any role in the attack.
The zoo is set to open today for the first time since the tiger killed a teenager and injured his two friends, brothers ages 19 and 23.
“Some of our staff did heroic things, and I hope that eventually they can be recognized for the way they handled some very difficult situations where they actually put their lives on the line,” director Manuel Mollinedo said.
Zoo officials believe the tiger climbed or jumped out of its enclosure before mauling the three men. Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, died in the attack.
The wall surrounding the grotto was 4 feet lower than the recommended height.
Mollinedo said something prompted the tiger to leave its enclosure, but he wouldn’t elaborate because of the investigation. Authorities have been looking into what preceded the attack, including the possibility that the victims taunted the tiger.
The tiger area will not be open when the zoo resumes operations today. Mollinedo has previously announced planned improvements to the big cat enclosure, including the installation of surveillance cameras and fencing.
Mollinedo said the facility will have signs posted warning people not to pester the animals and is in the process of putting a new public alert system in place that would notify visitors during emergencies. There was no such system in place at the time of the attack.
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