Zoo Admits Wall Too Low

San Fran zoo has admitted the wall around the tiger pen is only 12 1/2 ft after days of differing reports from zoo officials. The Director has also admitted this evening that the recommended height for Big Cat enclosures is 16 ft while many zoos build walls of 20 ft.

According to an interview on local Fox TV at teatime, zoo Director, Manuel Mollinedo, said the wall was built in 1940. Inspectors last checked on the Lion House three years ago and no comment was made then about the height of the wall.

It is now looking more likely that the tiger jumped the wall by herself, given the height. Police are not commenting tonight on the theory that one of the boys had dangled his legs over the wall.

There are obvious questions to be asked: did inspectors from the American Zoological Association take the word of the zoo on the wall's height? What did the zoo tell the inspectors? Was it reasonable for inspectors to take the zoo's word rather than measure the wall themselves?

And how come no-one at a zoo described as the largest in Northern California noticed that the wall was too low?

The police investigation is continuing. As yet there is no forensic result on the footprint found on the railings.

Meanwhile the zoo have announced new security measures for all it's animals: new fencing, surveillance and electric wiring.

One of the more moving aspects of the press coverage has been the tributes paid to the 17-year-old victim, Carlos Sousa. He is said to have been interested in hip hop music with hopes of becoming a DJ.

For the latest report click on San Francisco Chronicle

Tiger Escape

More details are emerging in the San Fran Chronicle on the possible method of escape of Tatiana, the tiger, from the zoo enclosure.

It is reported that a footprint has been found on a metal fence and police and zoo officials are investigating the possibility that one of the boys dangled an arm or a leg into the pen, allowing the tiger to grip on and climb the 14 ft wall.

The zoo director is quoted as saying:

'Somebody created a situation that really agitated her and gave her some sort of a method to break out. There is no possible way the cat could have made it out of there in a single leap. I would surmise that there was help.'

'A couple of feet dangling over the edge could possibly have done it.'

Pinecones and sticks have also been found in the moat, which should not be there. However, a police sergeant has said that there is no reason to think that the boys were taunting the tiger.

Sadly, the parents of the 17-year-old who died saw the news on TV but had no idea it was their son until the following day.