CALCUTTA, India --
A tiger killed one man and mauled another at the Calcutta zoo today when they
tried to put a marigold garland around its neck in a New Year's greeting.
Prakesh Tiwari, the dead man, and Suresh Rai had been drinking before they bought the floral garlands and crossed the moat around the tiger's enclosure, authorities said.
"I was shocked to see the two young men weaving about in front of a tiger with garlands in their hands," said Rakesh Banerjee, who witnessed the attack that triggered panic and a near stampede in the zoo.
The men, both in their 20's, were trying to
put the garland on a 13-year old male Royal Bengal tiger named "Shiva" after the Hindu god of destruction. When Rai threw the garland around Shiva's neck, the tiger attacked him. His friend Tiwari
intervened, kicking the tiger in the face. The tiger
released Rai, and attacked and killed Tiwari.
"I saw it all; the tiger turned and jumped
on the other young man and put its head on the man's
neck, and within moments, the man was apparently
dead, his head dangling, "
Banerjee said.
Unknown originators observations:
Alcohol and tigers don't mix.
Moats are placed around animal enclosures not only to keep dangerous animals in, but to keep stupid people out.
"Shiva" is an appropriate name for Royal Bengal tiger.
Maybe Shiva was allergic to marigolds.
Moral of this story - kicking a tiger, especially one named after a god of destruction, in the face will get you killed.
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