Zoo director: "something happened to provoke tiger"

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The San Francisco Zoo will open Thursday for the first time since a tiger killed a teenager and its director brushed aside criticism that two injured victims were denied help after the Christmas Day attack.

"I am extremely satisfied that our zoo staff acted appropriately, and I'm very proud of the way that our zoo staff operated that evening," director Manuel Mollinedo said at a news conference.

Mollinedo's remarks came a day after the lawyer for the attack's two survivors said the zoo was slow in responding to their pleas for help.

Attorney Mark Geragos said his clients, Paul Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 23, tried to get help for their friend, Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, after the three were mauled, but were "denied entry" to a cafe where they had fled because the zoo was closing.

Zoo spokesman Sam Singer dismissed Geragos' claims as unreliable and noted that the San Francisco police have not finished their investigation.

Zoo officials believe the tiger climbed or jumped out of its enclosure before mauling the three young men. The wall surrounding the grotto was 4 feet lower than the recommended height.

Mollinedo said something prompted the tiger to leave its enclosure, but he wouldn't elaborate because of the investigation. Authorities have been looking into what preceded the attack, including the possibility that the victims taunted the tiger.

"All I know is that something happened to provoke that tiger to leap out of her exhibit," Mollinedo said.

(Agencies)