Tiger kills Kansas teen posing for a photo

[kahskye]

Thursday August 18, 2005 11:46 PM


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MOUND VALLEY, Kan. (AP) - A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a teenage girl who was posing for photos at a family-run animal sanctuary Thursday in southeast Kansas, authorities said.

The Labette County Sheriff's office identified the victim as Haley R. Hilderbrand, 17, of Altamont. A statement from the office said Hilderbrand was at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary posing for photos with the 7-year-old tiger, which was being restrained by its handler, when the animal turned and attacked her.

Officers and handlers killed the animal. Emergency personnel were not able to revive Hilderbrand. Doug Billingsly and his family opened the 80-acre sanctuary in 1994. According to the sanctuary's Web site, its animals include lions, leopards, tigers and bears. The site says the sanctuary has an affiliated Animal Entertainment Productions, which trains animals for stage performances, movies, television shows and magic shows.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5219419,00.html


http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=202144&c=87


How sad!

 

[vicktor]

It was a tragedy for the girl and her family, but shouldn't some common sense have been used. The animal was no doubt much stronger than his handler and did what comes naturally to tigers. And for that the tiger lost his life, as well as the girl. Did no one remember what happened to Roy Horn when he was attacked and disabled. ( See also the movie called Grizzlyman, about a man who lived with bears in Alaska, until he was attacked and killed.)