Wendy/Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive."

Being volunteer and being smart at the same time isn't that easy, as Peter Getz, 32, serving at the Safari's Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, finally found out the hard way.

Despite all rules to the contrary, he entered the cage of a liger, a cross between a male lion and a female tiger.

He was able to leave the cage, got airlifted to the next hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Even the sanctuary's manager mentioned the rules: "We try to have all the procedures in place but for some reason they weren't followed this time. In all my years we've stressed that whatever you do, don't open that gate."

By not following very obvious rules, Peter Getz managed to almost turn into the Liger's next meal, and a well deserved one on that, as deserved as the Darwin award he will finally get, in order to serve as an example why big cats aren't as docile as the small ones.

Reference: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1082121

Massive liger - cross between lion and tiger - mauls U.S. volunteer to death after he breaks rules to enter its cage

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 3:43 PM on 31st October

A volunteer at a US animal sanctuary has died after he was savaged by a 1,000-pound liger - a rare cross between a lion and a tiger. Peter Getz, 32, suffered fatal puncture wounds in his neck and back as Rocky, who weighs twice that of an ordinary lion and is 20 times more powerful than a human, pounced on him during feeding time.

An investigation was under way last night into why Mr Getz, an accomplished big cat keeper, broke with protocol and entered Rocky's enclosure at Safari's Animal Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Bleeding heavily, he hauled himself out of the enclosure with help from two fellow keepers but collapsed outside and was airlifted to hospital, where he died last night.

"This is just horrid," said the sanctuary's owner, Lori Ensign. "We try to have all the procedures in place but for some reason they weren't followed this time. In all my years we've stressed that whatever you do, don't open that gate."

Rocky, who came to the sanctuary from a zoo in North Carolina that closed because it went broke, is so powerful that his toys were bowling balls and he would ordinarily be fed fresh meat via a pole poked through the fence. But Ms Ensign also stated that when Rocky was younger, she would ride on his back and that he was playful and gentle. Pictures on her website show her walking a tiger on a leash and bottle-feeding a cub.

Animal Planet host and wildlife expert Jeff Corwin said yesterday: "You're talking about an animal that is 20 times more powerful than the human that was feeding it. This animal could have, by its nature, a very individualistic, nice, personality...but one bad moment can be critical, if not lethal, to a human being."

Ligers are a cross between a male lion and a female tiger and are the biggest of all big cats.

The non-profit Safari's sanctuary is run by volunteers and regulated by state wildlife officials, who were investigating last night. They will determine whether Rocky will have to be euthanised. Eight years ago, a bear was reportedly put down after biting keepers at the refuge, which is home to around 200 rescued animals.

Mr Getz had volunteered there for over a year and had previously worked at Tulsa Zoo.

Dr Dan Danner, a local veterinarian who knew both the keeper and the liger, said: "Rocky is a big old baby, but if you've got an offensive lineman and they get excited, they are going to chomp a little harder and get aggressive."

Reference: http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/liger-vic-dies/

Submitted on 11/01/2008

Submitted by: Rene Laederach
Reference: Daily Mail, 31.10.2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
We've had numerous stories of people getting killed by zoo animals but most of them are dumb visitors who do things like climb fences, stick their hands in cages, etc. This was a zoo keeper who apparently was experienced and yet still violated policies and entered the cage of a much larger animal alone. Sounds like Darwin grade stupidity to me. Thanks, Rene!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Nice kitty...NOT! When WILL they learn??!

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