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The purpose of the modern zoo in American society is to propagate endangered species and to educate the public about animals of all shapes and colors and sizes. But all too often people visit zoos not to learn, not to contribute to animals' survival, not to admire from afar, but rather to taunt, to mock, to laugh at the animals.

Following the recent tiger incident at the San Francisco Zoo, many commentators have been quick to point out that the habitat's walls or the moat may have been inadequate, that authorities were not quick enough to respond, that legal liability may be high. Reports that the deceased zoo visitor had dangled his leg into the tiger habitat, taunting the tiger, that pine cones may have been pelted at the animal, and that the man's bloodied shoe had been found in the tiger habitat, have been largely ignored. Worse, the reports of taunting have been dismissed: irrespective of taunting, the tiger should not be able to get out', these commentators plead.

Agreed. If it comes to bear that the tiger got out on its own volition, then there was perhaps some negligence on the part of the zoo; however, what recourse does a confined tiger have to a tormentor? If we condemn the tiger for acting uncivilized, shall we not also condemn the man, if in fact, he was taunting the animal?

This is not to disgrace the poor fellow. But what shall we expect of human beings? Many animals in the world are dangerous to us. Many of them are endangered because of us. Many of them now live in zoos. When will we learn to respect animals?

The French playwright Jacques Deval wrote that "God loved the birds
and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages." If this is true, that it is a part of our humanity to capture creatures and hold them for our amusement, or even if it is true that we now have learned to capture them for their own benefit (that is for the future of their species), let our sins end there.

Taunting an animal in an enclosed habitat is wrong in and of itself. It is evil of the worst kind, the kind in which humans attack the innocent and the different-than-me; it is a result of a lack of empathy, one that is inexcusable and ignorant.

If it comes to bear that the victim had taunted the tiger, we should not only be sad for the human's demise and his family's subsequent loss, but also for the four-year old tiger named Tatiana, whose end was met with the bang of gunshots from shouting strangers.

Learn more about this author, Charles Thomas.
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