Zheng Wei, an employee of Harbin?s Manchurian Tiger Park in Heilongjiang Province, was killed on October 3 by a six-year-old Manchurian tiger which escaped from its cage.
The tiger wounded Zheng in the neck while he was unlocking a gate in the park. When other workers arrived at the scene of the accident, they found Zheng?s carotid artery had been severed and that his breathing had stopped.
Park manager, Wang Ligang, confirmed the accident and said that this is first time a tiger has ever killed anyone at the park. The victim?s family have received 150,000 yuan (US$18,138) compensation from the park.
Sun Haiyi, a Manchurian tiger expert from Heilongjing Institute of Wild Animal Research, said the accident was most likely due to improper security measures. The Manchurian tiger does not generally prey on animals. They are suspicious cats and almost always avoid contact with humans, except when they feel threatened or perhaps during mating season. The day before the incident, the tiger concerned had been wounded on the ear during a fight with other tigers. This could be a possible reason for its attack.
Sun Haiyi also said that once a tiger has experienced killing a human, it is likely to be even more dangerous. Knowing that humans are vulnerable, the tiger may try to attack people again in the future. He suggested that the tiger be imprisoned for the remainder of its life. Termination is also an option, but since the Manchurian tiger is a first-class protected animal, permission must be sought from the higher authorities.
There are number of differing opinions on the subject of how to deal with the tiger. Some people believe that human life should be the first priority and therefore the tiger should be corporally punished. Others believe that animals have no concept of humans and therefore should be treated with more compassion. A local lawyer said, ?It?s the park that should take responsibility according to ?Civil Regulations?.?
There are now less than 20 wild Manchurian tigers alive in China today, and about 300 Manchurian tigers being raised in captivity.
(china.org.cn by Li Liangdu, October 25, 2002)
