- Animal experts said yesterday the mauling of the Siegfried
and Roy illusionist, Roy Horn, by a 42-stone tiger was no accident, claiming
the animal was going for the jugular.
-
- The claim comes the day after Hornís partner,
Siegfried Fischbacher, said he believed the animal had been trying to help
Horn after the illusionist slipped during last Fridayís performance
in Las Vegas.
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- "The cat wasnít trying to protect him,"
said Jonathan Kraft, who runs the Arizona-based non-profit group Keepers
of the Wild. "That was a typical killing bite.
-
- "I admire the guys, I just think they are sending
a wrong message. The message needs to be: ëThese are wild animalsí."
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- Louis Dorfman, a Dallas animal behaviourist, said Fischbacherís
account was "a beautiful story, but it just doesnít wash".
-
- "Stress led to the bite," said Mr Dorfman,
who works with the International Exotic Feline Sanctuary in Texas. "It
was an outlet for his irritation. Roy got lucky."
-
- The casino mogul Steve Wynn said the attack happened
after the big cat became mesmerised by the hairdo of a member of the audience.
-
- "As Roy was leading Montecore [the tiger] out to
stage front on a leash, the cat became fascinated and distracted by a woman
with a big hairdo in the front row.
-
- "Montecore got down on all fours and put his 26in
head four inches away from the woman. She thinks this is adorable and part
of the show and reaches out to try and rub him under his chin ... As usual,
the heroic fellow that he is, Roy jumps between the woman and the tiger."
-
- Mr Wynn said Horn pulled on the tigerís lead to
coax the big cat to get up. "The tiger gently reached up and grabbed
Royís right arm with his jaws between Royís elbow and wrist
in a very gentle way," Mr Wynn said.
-
- He said the performer had to hit the tiger several times
with a microphone before it released its grip.
-
- "Roy continued to pull on Montecoreís leash,
not realising that one of the catís paws was behind his leg."
-
- Mr Wynn said Horn tripped over the paw and fell on his
back. Four stagehands rushed out and jumped on the cat.
-
- Mr Wynn believes Montecore was confused and reacted by
trying to carry Roy off the stage to safety.
-
- Siegfried and Roy debuted in 1990 at the Mirage Hotel-casino
and earned it about £29 million a year. The showís 267 staff
have been told to find new jobs.
-
- The cat is in quarantine. The US agriculture department
is investigating the attack.
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- ©2003 Scotsman.com
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- http://www.news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1124072003
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