Target: The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Garden
Goal: Protect animals from careless actions by workers.
An endangered tiger was killed by a sheriff at the Naples Zoo due to an apparent careless act by a zoo worker. This worker was not meant to be anywhere near the animals or the tiger enclosure. Eko, an 8-year-old Malayan tiger that arrived in 2019 to the zoo was apparently approached by a worker meant to clean restrooms and gift shops after hours. It is unknown whether this worker entered to feed or pet Eko. He was not meant or trained to be near the tiger or any of the animals. The man reportedly approached the tiger, reaching his arm into the fencing of the enclosure. The tiger grabbed the man’s arm out of fear and protecting himself because this man was not a familiar face for the tiger. When a sheriff arrived on the scene, he was “forced to shoot the tiger” after the tiger would not let go. Thus, resulting in killing an extremely endangered species.
Malayan tigers are found at the southern tip of Thailand. They are critically threatened by poachers and habitat loss in their homeland. Eko being at the Naples Zoo was meant to keep him safe but ultimately is the reason he was killed. He died because of an apparent careless human act. The zoo had no further comment after explaining the incident in general detail. Sign the petition below to demand that the Naples Zoo come out with a statement to console the public that they will advance security to keep their animals safe and protect the critically endangered species from workers that are not trained to be around the animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Naples Zoo at Caribbean Garden,
The zoo is meant to keep critically endangered species safe from what they would be experiencing in their homeland. It is disheartening to hear this story. Not coming out with a statement that rules will be enforced or security will be enhanced shows that the animals residing there do not mean as much as they should to the zoo. The worker who is apparently responsible for this should be held accountable for his alleged actions that resulted in Eko’s death.
Please train workers more effectively on why they should not interact with animals if it is not their duty to do so. Highlight the importance of these animals by having better security to keep them safe. Come out with a statement condemning the behavior of the worker that apparently broke into the tiger enclosure. Lastly, express the zoo’s remorse and take accountability for what happened to Eko. Eko deserves justice and recognition and endangered species at the zoo deserve safety and security.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Rennett Stowe
Zoo’s that allow this to happen need their license revoked. They should never be allowed to have a replacement of this tiger due to their stupidity. Every zoo has a vet on premisses in case of an emergency if not they should not be allowed to have animals.
I totally agree!! And what is with shooting to kill the Tiger? No tranquilizer guns available in a Zoo?? I have to say that — if that Tiger wanted to rip that idiot’s arm off, it would have done so long before help arrived for the whimpering a$$hole. In fact – they should have let the animal rip the guy’s arm off rather than killing the endangered species. Sometimes stupid humans have to learn a hard lesson — missing arm would have been his — and deserved.
All the animals must be seized immediately and given to sanctuaries. That zoo must be shut down permanently. It was the worker’s fault and the poor tiger paid the price by getting killed. I would have let the tiger bite the guy’s arm off. Stop killing animals.
Tranquilizer guns should be ready at hand, for instances just like this. This animal had to die because of a stupid human being!! Maybe 2 enclosures should keep people from sticking their hands where they don’t belong !!!
Agreed — tranquilizer guns should always be available on Zoo premises. Your idea of 2 enclosures made me think that the humans should have to go into the enclosures so the animals can run around freely outside of the enclosures. No place to stick arms through chain link enclosures.
Absolutely spot on!
You’re 100% correct.
Thank you for posting.
sheriff should shoot the man & not the tiger,he should have waited for someone to get a tranquilizer gun, instead off killing the poor innocent tiger!!!
First of all, the guy that stuck his arm in the tiger’s cage should be prosecuted for trespassing and he should be also responsible for the death of that animal and I think he should serve some jail time oh yes I do!!! I’m surprised he didn’t lose his arm! I think it would have taught him a very good lesson🤔 Didn’t his mother teach him not to touch things that don’t belong to him🙄 and second of all, the sheriff was way out of line,they always act too quickly and too hastily and always gunn down animals not just a tiger they have gunned down little dogs family pets & even people…. I’m not totally against the police,… I think we need them,… but, they need to be better trained and wear cameras at all times and need to be fired when they do something careless & Reckless like this. A beautiful creature lost his life because of a stupid man and even a stupider sheriff😫 What do they call it?,.. dumb and dumber? 🤪🥴
THEY SHOULD HAVE TRANQUILIZED THE TIGER, THEN HE’D STILL BE ALIVE! I’M SURE THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN WE KNOW.
That person is an idiot and the sheriff could have shot a warning shot first. Are these 2 morons related?!? That poor tiger!! Eko deserves justice!!!
This was so wrong that Eko had to pay his life for an idiot human that was trespassing in the first place. This idiot human should have known better and Eko should have been tranquilizer rather than killed!! Many human errors here!!
Tranquilized
How do these Zoos assess their worker’s mental acuity ? Would they hire Biden , for example, to clean around wild animals ? This worker was clearly not mentally fit to be around tame cats. Who in their right mind sticks his arm into a tiger’s cage ? I hope he sues the pants of this zoo, if only to teach them to be more responsible for the animals in their care. A tranquiliser gun should have been more easily available.
Please keep your pathetic political views out of these comments. Use your own name as an example if you want to try to belittle someone you do not even know in the comments.
You must be a tRumptard.
Foolish idiot irresponsible humans as usual poor tiger humans 👹
No warning shot??? No tranquilizer gun around. If this idiot still has his arm it was not desperation time to save an idiots life other methods could have been used. Also I hope this idiot who thought it was OK to stick his arm into a tiger cage list his job.😡😡😡
I have zero respect for this Zoo especially after the comment that CEO Jack Mulvana made on national television after the Tiger was shot and killed. He stated that human life is always more important than the life of an animal. Typical statement of arrogance. God did not create that rule but Jack Mulvana seems to believe he is above the Holy God himself. I would not want him as CEO of my Zoo. He is more about marketing for donations than anything else. In fact, that same day that Eko was shot and killed it was seen on their website that they were asking for money from the public in honor of Eko. Really? But this was not surprising given Ceo Jack Mukvana’s history with marketing for funds. There occurred at that zoo a beautiful Tiger that was shot and killed needlessly to save some guy who stupidly stuck his arm in the Tiger enclosure. Then they turn around and shoot to kill that Tiger. It would have made more sense to put that Man out of his misery. The question that many ask is why did they not Tranquilize the Tiger? Or how about Tasering? No, instead the Officer puts a 9mm bullet in Eko. Unbelievable.
Agree with you totally Shirley Lemieux. My first question, before I’d read all the supporting posts, was “where was the tranquiliser gun”? Why was it considered necessary to shoot the innocent cat? The zoo’s policies need overhauling. I hope the idiot who’s responsible for the death of this tiger is feeling extremely guilty. Wonder if he told his Mum?
Those responsible for the killing of EKO, should themselves forfeit their lives and be killed for this crime and Avenge EKO
THIS POOR INNOCENT TIGER DESERVES JUSTICE!!! PROSECUTE THIS PERSON WHO BROKE THE LAW AND CLIMBED THE WALL AND CAUSED THE TIGER TO ATTACK HIM!!!! THIS WAS AN ENDANGERED TIGER AND THIS IDIOT BROKE THE LAW AND CAUSED THE DEATH OF THE TIGER!!! HE DESERVES TO BE PUT IN A CAGE PRISON!!! Thank
This is so tragic…..
Eko should have been tranquilized. Why was he killed.
That was not the only option!!!
The employee needs to be charged to the maximum. There must have been sign in place to KEEP AWAY!
I know that now your in heaven Eko….
Fire this scumbag idiot janitor and fine the scumbag $50,000 minimum. This janitor essentially murdered this tiger!!!
Want this to stop? STOP GOING TO ZOOS!!
BAN zoos! They should not exist. Again, uppity humans who believe that a human life is worth more than an animal’s is the problem. In a court of law, the man would have been found guilty, not the tiger! Whose fault was it? We all know the answer to that. So, why are zoos murdering these innocent animals who are already behind the 8 ball because they are trapped for human profit.
Here we go again. This is so typical! Another incident of an innocent animal, minding his own business, being put in a deadly situation by a dumb as dirt, moron. Because of another stupid punk, a beautiful animal lost his life out of no fault of his. As usual, the animal is shot and killed. These officers feel there is never any other solution but to shoot to kill. I would bet you a stun gun would have probably shocked and surprised the tiger enough, for a few moments, to let go, so that that certified IDIOT could have yanked his arm away. I am sick of zoos (same with circuses, sea world, etc.) and they should be abolished. It’s not a place of paradise or sanctuary for animals. It is a place of stress, anxiety and a consistantly lack of privacy. It’s designed by man only for entertainment. Animals can’t even be at piece in those places without some dufus ass wanting to get up close and personal. When the animal does what comes natural to it, it gets killed. Why was a cop called? Dont they have animal personnel, with tranquilizer guns, to handle situations like that, should they occur? I am sick of humanity destroying the animal kingdom with its STUPIDITY! Incidentally, the tiger was in the right. You fools who choose to go to a wild animal caged up deserves what happens. I am pretty sure its going to happen again, with some brainless TWIT!!!
To shoot an endangered tiger because of the man?!