Tiger Attacks Roy Horn

On Friday, October 3, Roy Horn of the Siegfried & Roy nightclub act was attacked by a tiger during a performance at the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas. Horn was critically injured while attempting to force the tiger to do a trick. The tiger bit Horn on the right arm—at which point Horn tried to free himself by beating the tiger on the head with a microphone—and then lunged at his neck and dragged him off the stage “like a rag doll.” Off stage, Horn’s coworkers continued to beat the tiger in an effort to get him to release his hold on Horn, and the animal was finally blasted with a fire extinguisher, which distracted him from the attack. This tiger could easily have leaped off the stage and attacked members of the audience.

A Disaster Waiting to Happen
Big cats used in performances present a grave danger to unsuspecting members of the public as well as to trainers and handlers. It is not uncommon for frustrated captive animals to lash out at their “jailers” and attempt to escape when they get a chance. Although the Animal Welfare Act require exhibitors to ensure the animals’ and the public’s safety and to keep dangerous animals under control, these powerful and unpredictable animals often perform without any physical barrier between them and the audience. Members of the public, in addition to being traumatized when they witness these violent attacks, are in very real danger of being attacked themselves.

Since 1990, there have been at least 151 dangerous incidents involving big cats in 34 states. Two children have lost their lives, and more than 40 others have lost limbs or suffered other injuries. Eleven adults have been killed, and scores have been mauled. This latest tragic attack is just further evidence that no amount of training or experience can stop a tiger from acting like a tiger. The animals involved are victims, too—54 big cats have been killed because of these incidents.

Cruel Treatment
The use of big cats in performances is inappropriate and harmful for the animals involved. The animals are typically separated from their mothers before they are weaned, abused during training, subjected to overwhelming noise and confusion during performances, and forced to live in cramped, unnatural environments. During and after attacks, these animals are often beaten or even killed. Such displays and performances also perpetuate the notion that dangerous and exotic animals are suitable “pets.”

What You Can Do
Please write a polite letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Tell the Secretary of Agriculture that the USDA has been negligent in continuing to allow big cats to be used in dangerous situations, and ask the USDA to immediately prohibit any activities that permit direct contact with big cats:

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
202-720-2166 (fax)
agsec@usda.gov

Siegfried & Roy
c/o MGM Mirage
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-791-7111
702-792-7676 (fax)

Bill McBeath, President
MGM Mirage
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-791-7111
702-792-7676 (fax)
secretgarden@mirage.com

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