A fatal Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo has prompted concern over safety standards for predators in captivity at Canadian zoos.
The 350-pound Siberian tiger, named Tatiana, escaped from its enclosure, killing a 17-year-old teenager and severely mauling two brothers on its deadly rampage.
The zoo, which is expected to reopen on Jan. 3, could face severe fines from regulators, criminal charges or be stripped of its exhibitor license depending on the outcome of a police investigation.
On Thursday, San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel A. Mollinedo acknowledged that the wall around the animal's pen was just under four metres high (12� feet) high. That's well below the height recommended by the main accrediting agency for U.S. zoos: five metres.
The attack has triggered concerns of a similar escape in Canadian zoos.
The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums -- the agency responsible for Canadian zoo standards and accreditation -- said it will wait for the outcome of a San Francisco Zoo report before considering changes to Canadian safety standards.
Bill Peters, CAZA's national director, told CTV Calgary that inspectors are trained in the specific safety standards for each type of animal housed at Canadian zoos.
"That is verified by our teams of inspectors who have detailed knowledge of the requirements for various types of animals in different settings or circumstances," he said during a recent telephone interview.
CAZA's accreditation process, which takes place every five years, is modeled on the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's accreditation program.
Accreditation enables Canadian zoos to apply for qualify for grants and exempts institutions from certain government requirements.
Calgary Zoo Conservation and Research Director Cathy Gaviller told CTV Calgary that the zoo has safety measures in place for all animals, not just potentially dangerous predators like tigers.
"Our gorillas, for example, have a 12-foot smooth wall from bottom to top to prevent their escape," she said.
Video cameras surround the zoo property while panes of glass, up to five-centimetres thick, and steel surround many enclosures.
"We have sort of relentless, almost obsessive habits that we insist the keepers repeat every single day," Gaviller said.
Gaviller says predators are naturally hard-wired to chase objects, which is why the Calgary Zoo imposes strict safety requirements for their enclosures and on anyone with access.
"The enclosure fence is 15 feet high and then at the top of it you can see there is a 3-foot overhang towards the inside of the enclosure. That's lined with four strands of electric wire," she said of the tiger enclosure.
The electric wire extends underground for almost a metre and then curves into the exhibit to prevent animals from digging out.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, has sent inspectors to the San Francisco Zoo.
A USDA spokesperson told The Associated Press that the zoo could face additional penalties if an investigation is launched into the deadly tiger attack.
The zoo is already facing a lawsuit by zookeeper Lori Komejan, who was attacked on Dec. 22, 2006 when she fed the same tiger involved in the Christmas-Day attack.
Tatiana reached through her cage's iron bars and attacked a keeper's arm. The assault was blamed on the zoo and the facility was fined $18,000
With a report from CTV Calgary's Nujma Yaqzan
