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From: Linda
Category: Category 1
Date: 8/21/01
Time: 2:08:01 PM
Remote Name: 209.77.233.4
It would not.
Wild animals are unpredictable ... even ones captive raised.
There are far more animal handlers killed by captive animals (their own charges) than there are regular people who encounter animals in the wild.
Roy (of Sigfried and Roy) who is one of the best big cat trainers around was in a pen putting several big Bengal's thru their paces when one of the cats playfully nudged him ... the playful nudge of a 450 lb tiger can cause disaster. The nudge pushed Roy into the chainlink fence and he struck his head on one of the metal poles which knocked him out for a moment. When he fell to the ground the tigers who apparently thought he was downed prey (even tho all of them had been raised from cubs by him) began to circle him. His 165 lb black panther (also part of the act) positioned herself over his chest and held the tigers at bay until the rest of the staff could remove the tiger threat.
Accidents happen. They happen in all walks of life. Just because these animals are drop dead beautiful we can not ever assume they are not the lethal predator that God created them to be. To do so makes us their next potential victim.