OneManArmy
January 12th, 2010, 12:56 AM
A 66-year old Ontario man was killed by a 650-pound Siberian tiger he kept on his own property Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred some five years after a 10-year old Toronto boy was injured by a tiger at the property.
Norman Buwalda, was killed at his residence in Southwold, Ontario as he entered the animal's cage to feed it and was attacked, Ontario provincial police said.
"We don't know what actually took place, because no one witnessed it, but the tiger ended up attacking him and killing him," Ontario Provincial Police Const. Troy Carlson told The Canadian Press.
He was found by a family member shortly afterward, who was able to lock the tiger in a separate part of the cage.
Buwalda had five wild cats, including a lion and a cougar, on his property.
A port mortem is scheduled for January 11.
In 2004, a ten-year old Toronto boy was mauled by a 350-pound Siberian tiger at Buwalda's property. He was taking pictures of the animal for a school project and suffered serious head and neck wounds.
Buwalda had the tiger on a leash but the animal lunged at the boy when Buwalda lost his balance.
The incident prompted the Southwold Township to pass a bylaw banning exotic wild animals such as tigers.
Buwalda, who was the chairman of the Canadian Exotic Animal Owner's Association, never faced any charges in the incident as he was legally entitled to own the animal.
"Right now it occurs he's in legal possession. I mean he's had these animals for years," said Carlson.
Neighbours in the community have fought for years to have the animals removed.
"We were always concerned that he was just not diligent as to the dangers or being responsible for animals of that kind," Nicole Balogh told The Canadian Press.
Police say it is up to the family as for what to do with the tiger.
source (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100110/tiger_death_100110/20100110?hub=Canada)
thoughts??
Norman Buwalda, was killed at his residence in Southwold, Ontario as he entered the animal's cage to feed it and was attacked, Ontario provincial police said.
"We don't know what actually took place, because no one witnessed it, but the tiger ended up attacking him and killing him," Ontario Provincial Police Const. Troy Carlson told The Canadian Press.
He was found by a family member shortly afterward, who was able to lock the tiger in a separate part of the cage.
Buwalda had five wild cats, including a lion and a cougar, on his property.
A port mortem is scheduled for January 11.
In 2004, a ten-year old Toronto boy was mauled by a 350-pound Siberian tiger at Buwalda's property. He was taking pictures of the animal for a school project and suffered serious head and neck wounds.
Buwalda had the tiger on a leash but the animal lunged at the boy when Buwalda lost his balance.
The incident prompted the Southwold Township to pass a bylaw banning exotic wild animals such as tigers.
Buwalda, who was the chairman of the Canadian Exotic Animal Owner's Association, never faced any charges in the incident as he was legally entitled to own the animal.
"Right now it occurs he's in legal possession. I mean he's had these animals for years," said Carlson.
Neighbours in the community have fought for years to have the animals removed.
"We were always concerned that he was just not diligent as to the dangers or being responsible for animals of that kind," Nicole Balogh told The Canadian Press.
Police say it is up to the family as for what to do with the tiger.
source (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100110/tiger_death_100110/20100110?hub=Canada)
thoughts??