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.
The zoo was to open today for the first time since a tiger killed a teen and hurt two friends.
“I am extremely satisfied that our zoo staff acted appropriately, and I’m very proud of the way that our zoo staff operated that evening,” director Manuel Mollinedo said.
He did not detail their actions, citing a continuing police investigation. But, he said, “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.”
Mollinedo’s remarks came a day after the lawyer for the attack’s two survivors said the zoo was slow in responding to their pleas for help.
Attorney Mark Geragos said his clients, Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, tried to get help for Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, after they were mauled but were “denied entry” to a cafe where they had fled. The brothers then spotted a security guard, who appeared “diffident” when told of the escaped tiger, Geragos said.
Zoo spokesman Sam Singer dismissed Geragos’ claims as unreliable and noted that San Francisco police have not finished their investigation.
Late Wednesday, police said that a vodka bottle had been discovered on the front seat of the victims’ car. But whether the discovery is relevant to the tiger attack remains to be seen, police spokesman Sgt. Steve Mannina said.
Zoo officials believe the tiger climbed or jumped out of its enclosure, whose wall was 4 feet lower than the recommended height.
