Chomping sea lion terrorizes swimmers

Move over Jaws, chomping sea lion terrorizes swimmers

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Tourists flock to Fisherman's Wharf for the seafood and the stunning views of San Francisco Bay, but for many visitors, the real stars are the dozens of playful, whiskered sea lions that lounge by the water's edge, gulping down fish.

Now a series of sea-lion attacks on people in recent months has led experts to warn that the animals are not as cute and cuddly as they appear.

"People should understand these animals are out there not to attack people or humans. But they're out there to survive for themselves," said Jim Oswald, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Center across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. (Watch wary swimmers on alert for 'whiskers on feet')

In the most frightening of the recent episodes, a rogue sea lion bit 14 swimmers this month and chased 10 more out of the water at San Francisco's Aquatic Park, a sheltered lagoon near the bay. At least one victim suffered puncture wounds.

Some scientists speculate that the animals' aggressive behavior is being caused by eating fish contaminated by toxic algae, or by a shortage of food off the coast. But wildlife experts say even healthy sea lions are best left alone.

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Just in time for Christmas!

Sharkbite Barbie!





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Family pet chewed off baby's toes while parents slept

Parents in toe-chewing case make plea deal

BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana (AP) -- A couple whose baby's toes were gnawed off by a family pet will accept a deal from the prosecutor and plead guilty to improper child supervision, their attorney said.

Under the agreement, Mary and Christopher Hansche would plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of improper supervision of their child, perform community service, attend parenting classes and give up their pets -- a pit bull puppy and a ferret.

The charge carries up to six months in jail and a $250 fine.

They will remain jailed until the January 3 hearing and a judge will decide if they do more jail time after that, as well as who gets custody of the baby girl.

Public defender Pam Smart told KTBS-TV she met with the Hansches on Friday and they agreed to plead guilty in the case.

The Hansches were arrested December 7 after they woke up and saw that one of their pets had gnawed off four of their month-old daughter's toes. The couple had been asleep on a mattress on the floor with the infant in a carrier next to them.

Mary Hansche, 22, said the ferret did it. Police said Christopher Hansche, 26, thought the dog was responsible.

The animals will be offered for adoption rather than be euthanized, Bossier Parish District Attorney Schuyler Marvin told the news station.

Marvin said he believes there were enough mitigating circumstances in the case to offer a plea agreement, with conditions. "I certainly don't think they had the intent to cause harm to their child," Marvin told KTBS. "A lapse in judgment, I think, is what happened."

The baby was released from the hospital this week; she and her 2-year-old brother are now in the care of a grandparent.

Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/22/babys.toes.ap/index.html

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Tiger mauls zoo trainer

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- A 350-pound Siberian tiger attacked and injured its trainer shortly after a public feeding Friday at the San Francisco Zoo.

The unidentified woman may lose an arm as a result of her injuries, and was in surgery Friday at San Francisco General Hospital with injuries to both arms, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said.

"My understanding is the injuries are not life-threatening, but perhaps limb-threatening," Hayes-White said.

The 3-year-old female tiger, Tatiana, reached through the iron bars of her enclosure and grabbed the trainer with both front paws shortly after 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET), zoo officials said.

At least 50 visitors were at the zoo's big cat exhibit, called the Lion House, when the tiger attacked, said Robert Jenkins, director of animal care and conservation at the zoo. They were quickly evacuated after the incident.

The trainer has been an animal keeper at the zoo since 1997. Her main job is taking care of the zoo's four lions and three tigers, Jenkins said.

"No matter how familiar you get with these animals, they're still wild animals," Jenkins said. "You have to have a healthy respect for them and be aware of what can happen."

The zoo houses two types of tigers, Sumatran and Siberian. The tigers are fed fortified horse meat at the Lion House facility. The Sumatran tigers can weigh up to 350 pounds, while the Siberian males can weigh up to 600 pounds.

The indoor portion of the Lion House will remain closed pending an investigation of the attack, Jenkins said. Visitors will still be able to view the zoo's lions and tigers, including Tatiana, in the outdoor portion of the exhibit.

Tatiana arrived at the San Francisco Zoo from the Denver Zoo more than a year ago. There were no previous incidents of aggression against humans involving the tiger, said Ana Bowie, a Denver Zoo spokeswoman.

The mauling was the first tiger attack on a human at San Francisco Zoo, Jenkins said.

The zoo conducts tiger feedings six days a week, a popular attraction for hordes of children, parents and nannies who visit daily.

According to its Web site, San Francisco Zoo is one of the only zoos in the United States where visitors can see big cat feedings.

Another big cat caused a scare at the other end of the country early Friday when a worker at the National Zoo in Washington discovered a clouded leopard was missing from its enclosure.

The zoo was cordoned off while a search was conducted. The leopard was found sleeping near its enclosure after about 35 minutes. It was anesthetized and returned safely to its enclosure.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/22/tiger.attack.ap/index.html

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