Safari Park white tiger kills Malaysian
Safari Park white tiger kills Malaysian
JAKARTA (JP): A Malaysian woman was mauled to death last week
by a white tiger at Taman Safari Indonesia in Cisarua, Bogor,
West Java.
A sergeant of the Cisarua Police sub-precinct said the
59-year-old woman, identified as Ngai Hong Chee, was attacked
Thursday in the park's baby zoo.
"The victim slipped while she was trying to take a picture and
suddenly the tiger attacked her," the sergeant, who asked for
anonymity, said Saturday at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital morgue.
The woman, who suffered severe injuries to her neck, died on
the way to Cisarua hospital, he said.
The woman came from Malaka, Malaysia, he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Embassy press relations officer Denny B
said Saturday the embassy had been informed of Ngai's death
Thursday night.
"We have contacted the victim's family and we are still
waiting for their response," he said.
Senior lawyer Nusirwan A. Thabrani said the Taman Safari
management was responsible for the mishap.
He cited Article 1368 of the Civil Law, which states "anybody
who has animals, which cause harm, should be held responsible for
any damage the animal causes, whether the animals are under his
direct control or not".
"The relatives of the victim could definitely sue Taman Safari
which is, legally, obliged to guarantee visitors their safety,"
he said.
Nusirwan said even if the animal was tame, the owner should
have been careful to prevent any possible incident.
"The Taman Safari management should prove first that its
employees were careful enough of the animals before dismissing
any lawsuit," he said.
If they could not prove it, then their negligence caused harm
to a visitor, Nusirwan said.
ANteve, quoting the Taman Safari management, reported Saturday
the relatives would not sue.
On July 20, an American boy was attacked by a baby tiger also
in the park's baby zoo. Aaron Baker, 9, suffered light injuries
to his face. The boy returned to Bengkulu with his parents after
being treated at a hospital. (jun/07)