A Siberian tiger that killed a zookeeper is being kept in isolation
in the northern province of Heilongjiang, the Siberian Tiger Park
announced yesterday.
The wildlife park, a popular tourist attraction, made the decision
at a plenary staff meeting after receiving suggestions from the
public on how to punish the tiger.
The park will open a special outdoor area for the 6-year-old
tiger.
He
will be provided nutritious food and may also be given opportunity
to reproduce if he remains in stable condition. A DNA sample proved
the tiger to be a purebred Siberian with high-standard genetic
diversity.
Zoo workers said they worked hard to raise the tiger and cannot
bear to hurt the creature, even as a punishment.
The tiger escaped from his cage and attacked Zheng Wei, an electric
gate operator, on October 3, puncturing Zheng's jugular artery. The
victim died on the way to hospital.
(eastday.com October 29,
2002)