Tiger Attacks Las Vegas Magician (Roy of Siegfried & Roy)

[kskiska]

LAS VEGAS -- A tiger attacked magician Roy Horn of the duo "Siegfried & Roy" during a Friday night performance at The Mirage hotel-casino, authorities said.

Roy was attacked at the throat, said Clark County Fire spokesman Bob Leinbach. He was taken to University Medical Center; Leinbach did not know his condition.

The illusionists, who put on one of the most well-known and expensive Las Vegas shows with their signature white tigers and lions, signed a lifetime contract with the Mirage in 2001.

more…
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-tiger-attack-magician,0,4561546.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Newsjock]

1. Roy in critical condition

On AP wire
{Eds: UPDATES thruout with Horn in critical condition; CORRECTS second reference of Horn, ages of magicians<

[alcuno]

5. FAUX reported "beyond critical condition."

Isn't beyond critical dead?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Well, yeah. That is just Faux, being Faux... they have no concept

of which they speak.

[BiggJawn]

27. Did the news bimbo give her unfettered boobies an extra jiggle...

...under her silk blouse when she read that...

"...and his, like, <jiggle> condition is, like ,<jiggle> reported as SOOOOOOOOOO 'Beyond, like, Crtitcal....<jiggle>..."

"FOX News" is an oxymoron...

Hang in there, Roy, Lost Wages wouldn't be the same w/o you...

[radwriter0555]

33. Bout time those poor abused and mistreated animals fought back..

I feel bad for the guy, but it was bound to happen.

Now the tiger will be killed (if it hasn't already) for acting on its NATURAL instincts.

Score a point for humans, eh?

yeck.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. OMG

The tigers are getting their revenge! :wow:

[eileen_d]

3. geez

I think Siegfried and Roy are kind of tacky, but this is really sad, considering how long they've been working with the animals.

[thebigidea]

4. weird

a couple weeks ago I was in Vegas with some friends. I remember looking it up at a garish ad for those two and mentioning that it was "only a matter of time before a tiger goes for their teutonic throats."

[kskiska]

6. Maybe Arnold can replace Roy in the act

Seriously, though, how awful. I know a little boy who saw that act in Vegas a few months ago. Must have been kids in the audience.

[patdem]

7. WOW..the new GD rules are HARSH...this could be LBN

I hope he is okay...I mean the Tiger's life is in the balance...if Roy dies so does the Tiger? I hope they both survive!

I am not only hoping Roy survives for the Tiger..but I do hope they BOTH survive...Roy first..then the Tiger.

[ReadTomPaine]

8. Fox News ironically has the details on this one..

It appears as tho this was the 9 year old white tiger's first performance. Viewers in the audience report Roy Horn was dragged offstage "like a ragdoll" by his neck after trying to beat the animal away with a mike stand. Nasty situation.

[WindRavenX]

9. Very sad

While I cannot say their shows are to my liking, it's very sad to see Roy hurt :(

[Occulus]

10. Yes it is

and the tigers are beautiful- it's sad that the only way we can see them is in a zoo or a setting like this one.

In the wild, their own home, they are in danger from us. This is true for tigers in general.

[Newsjock]

12. KLAS: Friday is Roy's 59th birthday

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1469279&nav=168XILwD

Here are a few facts of interest:

... Friday, Oct. 3 is Roy's 59th birthday. He and a few hundred friends were celebrating his birthday Thursday night. Entertainment Editor, Kate Maddox was one of the guests. She reports, "I was just celebrating with him and a few hundred friends last night in the Siegfried and Roy Showroom. He was in good spirits, surrounded by his loved ones, and generally very upbeat. I have been a guest at their home and covered a number of events where the tigers and lions have been involved, mainly at their Las Vegas compound, Jungle Palace."

more

[Corgigal]

13. NO disrespect

But these are tigers. I hope they don't kill the tiger because it acted like a tiger.

[colorado_ufo]

16. I doubt it.

I don't think they treat tigers like domestic pets that go "rogue." A dog that kills someone might wind up in another situation where he could be a danger. A tiger can be sent to a zoo or retirement farm.

[Piperay]

17. Me too, the tiger was just

being a tiger and doing what tigers do, wild animals should not be used for entertainment, it's always dangerous for the people and very bad for the animals.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. That is one way out of a lifetime contract, I guess

[kskiska]

15. Pic

[rocktivity]

31. Speaking of Arnold...

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=283&row=0


rocknation

[lynx rufus]

18. I work with 150 wild cats every month

Tigers let you know when they want company -
no doubt about it. Also true of Cheetahs, Cougars,
Siberian Lynx and so on. There are at least 36 species of wild cat.
EVERY cat has a way to let you know if they want company.
With rare exception (for instance, those refuges that work with tigers every day from birth) you must read the cat every time BEFORE you work with the cat. I have worked with over 1000 wild cats without incidence. I would never enter in with a cat where the cat does not say yes.

Anyone who thinks they can work with a great cat every day
without concern for how the cat feels needs to look at the lion's mane. The lion's mane is a sign - posted for the uninitiated. Simply read it says this: Fuck with me and find out.

[roguevalley]

19. agreed. my niece trained to handle tigers. they can never be trusted or

underestimated. I doubt that the tiger will be harmed.
They love those animals and work to keep the breed going.
This is very, very sad.

[REP]

22. Same for Any Cat

The main difference being housecats are unlikely to kill or maim, though a 6-pound kitten did send me to the hospital a few weeks ago. (She objected to getting medicine. We're both fine.)

[dolo amber]

28. Hi lynx rufus

Welcome to DU! :hi: :toast:

[Swede]

20. I thought Woods was golfing in Florida

Sorry,it's getting late. I hope Roy is ok.

[Avalon Sparks]

21. My thoughts and prayers to Roy...

and Siegfried too. I'm sorry but I love those guys ~ please don't flame me. I'm really upset by this. I hope Roy's going to be alright. I know they have made a rich living from the animals, but I based on everything I've read, they also seem to do a lot of good.
I'm just so sad to hear about this.

[Dookus]

23. I feel bad for him, too.

As I posted in the other thread in LBN, I have very mixed feelings about S&R.

On one hand, I don't think we should use animals that way for entertainment.

On the other hand, I know their tigers are very well-cared for, and that S&R have done a LOT to help the survival of these rare animals. I also have to think that at least SOME percentage of the millions of people who've seen their show were compelled to contribute their time or money to help save the tigers.

Interesting factoid: The Siegfried & Roy show is, far and away, the most successful stage show ever created. They've brought in over a BILLION dollars over the years.

Funny old Joan Rivers joke (I mean the joke is old, not Joan Rivers. Except she is old - and creepy looking!):

What are the odds of the only two gay lion-tamers in the world FINDING each other?

[Avalon Sparks]

24. Hi Dookus~

I read your post on the other thread, and I just wanted to let you know it made me feel a little better. It's late here, so I can't call anyone and my husband is sleeping... but it was nice to read your posts - thanks.

I also wanted to let you know that you were right. I fell in love with S&R's tigers and I've donated money to a tiger habitat near where I live ever since. In fact I am suppose to go there tomorrow, but I don't know if I will be able to now. I really am sad.

[opihimoimoi]

25. Murphy was right

sooner or later

the odds catch up.

Sad, hope he comes out OK and not like the Reeves guy.

[tedzbear]

26. Sorry, but Roy had it coming...

I have no sympathy for someone who earns lots of money forcing wild animals to perform unnatural acts while keeping them in cages. It's about time us humans developed more sympathy for our animal comrades on this planet and stop enslaving them for our entertainment. I suggest readers go to the PETA websites and read about the horrors animals like elephants face in circuses. It's shameful.

Even zoos are shameful. Animals should be kept on large preserves that mimic their natural habitat. Otherwise, their captivity is enslavement and abuse.
:kick:

[Deja Q]

29. I disagree with half of what you said, but agreed with the other half

Forcing animals to do dumb things is dumb. It was a matter of time, even for the experts. And circuses are vile. Control over animals doesn't prove humankind is better. Only more cruel.

However, zoos are not a bad thing. Animals get free room and board, healthcare, ability to run around and be themselves although penned within a comparatively confined space to keep them from getting hurt by forces which lie outside their confines. There's even a shelter to go hide in if they're tired of being watched. Good heavens, zoo critters get more respect, food, and shelter than many HUMANS do. In that respect, zoos are pathetic because humankind won't even take care of humankind! :Grr: :mad: :puke: You call that abuse?! And how is it enslavement, the confined animals are not being asked to build the Pyramids much less do anything else. Just live.

And with deer and other animals roaming the country freely to hurt people ort get ran over on the freeway... You bet your sweet bippy zoos are better.

But I DO AGREE, large preserves are ideal. But look at corporate america, they've got the power and they only care about their bottom line. Everything else can rot. They don't care if their actions cause the Earth to exploder unless they don't get a big enough profit out of it. I wish they'd rot instead. Corporate america is the true evil here.

As for PETA, as long as they think out their argument beforehand and not resorting to goofy antics in order to make a point. Tying chicken production farms to Nazi death camps was utterly silly, if not vulgar. It tried to inspire anger, but it did - only the anger was against PETA, tarnishing their credibility. PETA needs to not to the vulgar song and dance. Just a video showing how animals are kept and slaughtered and the gross conditions within would turn many peoples' heads for THE RIGHT REASONS. Doing a song and dance about how animals have feelings can help if properly done. But tying in a chicken factory as Auschwitz? Good lord, they nearly lost me as a fan of theirs...

[Sacajawea]

37. Agree with you 100%, tedthebear...

I think forcing wild animals to jump through flaming hoops (or whatever) is obscene ! S&R's entire act is an offense against Nature.

There's a line that the Jeff Goldblum character in "Jurassic Park" says something to the effect of: "Nature will find a way." Well, She did.

Maybe, just maybe, people will realize that animals are not on this planet to entertain US !

[Feanorcurufinwe]

40. I'll never forget

one time a girlfriend and I thought it would be fun to go to the zoo. But it was depressing. The animals did not look happy at all to be locked up. And then we went to the 'children's zoo'. There was some kind of small monkey in a cage and it was just smashing the padlock on the cage over and over and shreiking. It was horrible.

[AntiCoup2K4]

30. According to CNN's take on it....

Roy was hitting the tiger upside the head with a microphone. Sounds like a case of self defense to me. You would think a guy that had been around tigers for 30 years would know that pissing them off isn't the best move.

[theemu]

32. Um...

I believe he was hitting the tiger with the microphone *after* it ripped open his jugular.

[AntiCoup2K4]

34. Nope...

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/04/roy.attacked/index.html

Amy Sherman, who was sitting in the front row with her mother about 10 yards away from the stage, said the attack happened right after Horn introduced the tiger.

"Right after that, the tiger kind of turned its head and bit him on the arm," Sherman said. "Roy started taking a microphone and started whapping the tiger on the head."

The tiger, who was on a short leash, then dragged Horn to the ground and they struggled before the tiger dragged him behind a curtain by his neck, she said. Trainers on stage rushed to aid Horn, trying to subdue the tiger.

[Deja Q]

35. Sadly, the tiger is going to get killed anyway

In the excuse that it is the "humane" thing to do.

PETA is going to have a field day with this, nor can I entirely blame them.

[DS1]

36. crying crocodile tears over here

granted, these animals would likely be shot dead in a Texas style endangered animal hunt (take gun, add cage, rare animal and bullets and you have the idea) if they weren't performing three times a night.

then again, i'd take the bullet

[mitchtv]

38. .

.

[mitchtv]

39. I doubt the tiger will be killed

.