01/14/08 The Tiger Cage Syndrome

We are rapidly digressing into a barbaric society, one that revels in cage fighting and violent video games. Is it any wonder we are creating a generation capable of unspeakable cruelty? Our zoos and wildlife parks are no longer haven's to nurture curiosity they have become a place for drunken teens to torment and taunt animals. We will never know the full story behind the death of a young man mauled by Tatiana a Siberian tiger, but one Jennifer Miller saw four young men ages 17 -23 harassing the big cats prior to the attack She found their actions so disturbing so told The Chronicle she quickly removed her family from the exhibit. A month latter a bull elephant named Tusker, a favorite of safari camp patrons was shot to death after hundreds of intoxicated young people at a News Years party tormented the animal , feeding it glass, lighting fireworks at it, pulling it's hair . Wasn't there even one among the inebriated mass who tried to help the beast? What does this say about our children? Apathy and tolerance has corrupted our society so that we respond like the woman at the tiger cage, quickly remove ourselves and make no attempt to stop the travesty.