WTBS kill Zoo-Keeper

by JEMIMAH 13 Replies latest jw friends

  • JEMIMAH
    JEMIMAH
    Zookeeper Mauled by Lion
    PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A 500-pound African lion mauled a zookeeper who had stepped into the animal's cage Thursday to pose for a magazine photo.

    George Koll, 61, was attacked in the head and throat by the male lion. He was listed in critical but stable condition Thursday at Gulf Coast Medical Center.

    Koll's nurse, Tracy Schroeder, said he would remain in intensive care through Thursday night.

    "He's stable. He's doing fine," she said.

    Koll, who owns 77 Zoological Park in Southport, was giving a tour to several reporters for the Jehovah's Witnesses' Awake magazine when a photographer asked him to step inside the lion's cage for a photo, officials said.

    "He does it all the time," Steve Kirk, a zoo employee, told The News Herald of Panama City. "He's never had a problem with him. He goes in with all the big cats."

    The lion, named Samson, was calm when he entered, then Koll stumbled and fell to the ground and the lion pounced, dragging him across the cage.

    The photographer jumped into the cage with a stick and pried the lion off of Koll, zoo employees said.

    Samson is one of two lions at the zoo, which opened eight years ago and has more than 400 animals.

    Officials said there are no plans to euthanize the lion.

    Information from: The News Herald

    http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/news/local/4309638.htm http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/apnews/stories/101702/D7MNMT9O0.html
  • Kenneson
    Kenneson

    Did the zookeeper die? This article says he is in "critical but stable condition."

  • blondie
    blondie

    No, he's still recovering.

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-loclion19101902oct19,0,1936297.story?coll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines

    Panhandle zoo keeper attacked by lion is getting better

    From Wire reports

    October 19, 2002

    SOUTHPORT -- A zoo keeper's condition was upgraded to serious but stable Friday, a day after he was mauled by a 500-pound African lion while posing for a picture in the cat's cage.

    George Koll, owner of the 77 Zoological Park in this Florida Panhandle community, was improving at Gulf Coast Medical Center in nearby Panama City, said zoo volunteer Denise LaPointe. He was hospitalized in critical condition Thursday.

    The male lion, Samson, grabbed Koll, 61, by the neck and dragged him across the cage after the zoo keeper slipped and fell in the cage, said employee Steve Kirk.

    Samson never before had been aggressive, and there are no plans to euthanize him, LaPointe said.

    She said Koll was giving a tour to reporters from Awake magazine, published by Jehovah's Witnesses, when a photographer asked him to get in the lion's cage for a picture.

    The photographer jumped into the cage with a stick and pushed the lion away from Koll, said employee Bill Allison.

    Kirk was unable to explain the lion's violence.

    "He's a beautiful animal, but you never know with these big cats," Kirk said.

    "People raise them and train them for years, and one day they're in a bad mood and an accident happens."

    Copyright 2002, Orlando Sentinel

  • SpannerintheWorks
    SpannerintheWorks

    Maybe the stint was planned by the WBTS! You know, a kind of " before and after thing "

    Before Armageddon: Lions are dangerous and attack people.

    After Armageddon, on a paradise Earth: Lions are tame and love being stroked by little children.

    " Do you want to live forever in paradise on Earth? Jehovah's Witnesses would be pleased to arrange a free bible..blah...blah...blah.."

    Let's look out for the Christmas edition of the Awake!

    Spanner

  • Kenneson
    Kenneson

    Wonder if the Society will scrap the Awake! article? Could make them look bad. But, then, that's already true, isn't it?

  • BONEZZ
    BONEZZ

    Lions have great instinct...probably smelled the fear on the zookeeper who was dealing with Awake! scum.

    Or zookeeper was holding Awake! mag in hand so lion felt threatened. Either way, the lion had the right idea, just got the wrong person.

    One last senario....It was Satan...trying to devour them...but the angels interceded and threw the poor zookeeper inbetween. Yeah, that's the one...expect to see this true-life experience written up in next Watchtower...."Yes brothers and sisters, the time is short, as the devil is even turning the animals against god-fearing people"...or some such drivel.

    -BONEZZ

    PS. Hope the zookeeper makes it. I think we can turn him on to a good attorney to sue the Borg.

  • No Apologies
    No Apologies

    If he's not dead then you need to change the title of this thread!!!!!

  • Gopher
    Gopher

    The word "kill" in this thread's title is untrue. We have to deal with the facts when we tell about the WT Society, or else we lose all credibility!

    Edited by - Gopher on 19 October 2002 14:34:20

  • ozziepost
    ozziepost

    The word "kill" in this thread's title is untrue.

    Also it seems it wasn't the WTS who initiated the action, but a "photographer".

    Still, it's a fascinating account. Thanks, Jem. Good to see ya aboard.

    How's things with you?

    Cheers, Ozzie

  • Prisca
    Prisca

    Yes, I have to say the title of this thread is overly sensational, as well as untrue.

    It would be a good idea to change the title to something like "Zoo-Keeper Mauled Whilst Posing for Awake! Pic".....

    At least it would then be accurate.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit