Animal Experts Say Tiger Meant to Kill Roy

Friday, October 10, 2003

(8:05 AM ET)

By Adam Goldman

Associated Press Writer

Louis Dorfman, a Dallas animal behaviorist who works with the International Exotic Feline Sanctuary in Texas, said Fischbacher's account of an accidental mauling was “a beautiful story but it just doesn't wash.” Dorfman said, “Stress led to the bite. It was an outlet for his irritation. Roy got lucky.”

Siegfried Fischbacher gives a thumbs up as he walks out of Roy Horn's home in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003 after giving interviews to the media for the first time since his stage partner, Roy Horn, was mauled by a tiger during a 'Siegfriend and Roy' performance. Horn remains in critical condition at University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Image Credit: Photo/Laura Rauch -- AP

Las Vegas -- AP
Animal experts on Thursday disputed a theory that a tiger accidentally mauled Roy Horn of the duo “Siegfried & Roy,” saying the 600-pound animal was going for the jugular.

“The cat wasn't trying to protect him,” said Jonathan Kraft, who runs the Arizona-based nonprofit group Keepers of the Wild. “That was a typical killing bite.”

“I admire the guys, I just think they are sending a wrong message,” Kraft said. “The message needs to be: These are wild animals.”

Horn's partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, said Wednesday in interviews on CNN and ABC that the animal had been trying to help Horn after the illusionist slipped during Friday's performance.

Fischbacher said he was backstage when the Royal White tiger named Montecore took hold of Horn's neck and dragged him offstage. Show workers set off fire extinguishers to distract the tiger, which then scurried to his cage.

Fischbacher said Horn muttered after the attack: “Don't harm the cat.”
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2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan