OMG This is a ******* disgrace

Cosimo · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:24

So they didn’t have a tranquiliser gun at hand, what would you do to stop the sex crazed reindeer?

GeX · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:28

don't really see the issue, yes they were clouting it with a spade - but hardly looked like he was putting a lot of force into it. Pretty sure if they were trying to be cruel then they'd have hit much harder

finga · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:29

its a woman thats first attacked, and they are not speaking Polish, I can tell you that much

sorn21 · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:30

To be fair, he started it...

Dave M · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:33

Initially at least, and mostly as far as I can tell by a heavily edited video, the animal was tapped on the nose with the shovel - not hit with it. For an animal that size and strength it was hardly excessive.

Has any dog owner never given their pet a tap on the nose for being naughty?

I don't know why they didn't tranquilise it, perhaps they didn't want to risk the animal dieing and didn't think the situation warranted it. I do know every wildlife drama I see they are always concerned about the animal waking up after being darted and I doubt we ever see the episodes where they didn't.

Morgoth · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:37

Eurgh, he doesnt half twist its neck into a nasty looking position near the end there. What I don't understand is how it starts with the initial keeper getting attacked, then the other guy comes and ends up getting attacked instead, then the third guy comes along and also ends up getting knocked down and pinned. Surely they could have just grabbed him by the antlers and retreated back to the gate then close it? /boggle

-Ad- · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:52

thepharcyde said:
Where are these idiots based? Polish or something???????

http://www.break.com/index/reindeer-attacks-zookeeper.html

1.) Blaming the polish :rolleyes:

2.) The woman has been injured by the crazed deer and is bleeding everywhere. What the hell are they supposed to do, let it hurt them some more because of its animal rights :rolleyes:

Also to those crying 'tranq' gun, do you really think that equipment is just lieing around for anyone to use. No doubt the sedatives and drugs will be pretty powerful and certainly wouldn't be available for all to use, and will most likely be locked up. Who's to know that said tranqs arn't stored on the other side of zoo site.

Have some more roll eyes :rolleyes:

Dave M · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:53

Morgoth said:
Eurgh, he doesnt half twist its neck into a nasty looking position near the end there. What I don't understand is how it starts with the initial keeper getting attacked, then the other guy comes and ends up getting attacked instead, then the third guy comes along and also ends up getting knocked down and pinned. Surely they could have just grabbed him by the antlers and retreated back to the gate then close it? /boggle

I guess he's trying to get the animal to ground but doesn't quite know how.

That combined with the tapping on the nose suggests they've had a brochure or half our video on how to handle the reindeer and it isn't enough when faced with an angry male in season.

I'd suggest they didn't just retreat because they wanted the animal out of the enclosure with the females - perhaps they think he would attack them?

Who knows, I'm sure they're doing what they've been trained to do, badly, and it looks worse than it is because we are even more clueless on handling large animals than they are.

If they've gone too far they will face discipline but I'd hate for them to made scapegoats for the Zoo's inadequate training.

krooton · 12 Mar 2010 at 09:56

thepharcyde said:
?

Family reunion, 2008, good times!

thepharcyde · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:05

-Ad- said:
1.) Blaming the polish

2.) The woman has been injured by the crazed deer and is bleeding everywhere. What the hell are they supposed to do, let it hurt them some more because of its animal rights

Also to those crying 'tranq' gun, do you really think that equipment is just lieing around for anyone to use. No doubt the sedatives and drugs will be pretty powerful and certainly wouldn't be available for all to use, and will most likely be locked up. Who's to know that said tranqs arn't stored on the other side of zoo site.

Have some more roll eyes

So the GAIA are in the wrong to sue the zoo in question :rolleyes:

for you too.

Excessive force has been used clearly. The women wants a part of it even after she is no longer in the frame.

Shame on them

Gerard · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:06

simulatorman said:
So they didn’t have a tranquiliser gun at hand, what would you do to stop the sex crazed reindeer?

Toss a handy dandy inflatable sheep at it.

AHarvey · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:11

thepharcyde said:
So the GAIA are in the wrong to sue the zoo in question for you too.

Excessive force has been used clearly.

You seem to think bodies such as GAIA are always correct when they try and sue someone? No, they will try and sue anyone for anything, especially if it gets them media coverage.

Excessive force wasn't used at all. You have to remember that come mating season male reindeer fight, and then clash with such force that if applied to a human would cause serious injury or death. In other words, it'd take a hell of a lot to hurt one.

A few taps with a shovel are hardly going to bother it and believe it or not, it was a better method than resorting to tranqs as the have all sorts of issues with them, the main one, being death.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:13

Looked all right to me, a reindeer is a strong animal, if a shovel is all they had to hand, fine. Its not as if they hit it over and over and over many times.

thepharcyde · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:14

because 2:48 is clearly a tap

Le_Petit_Lapin · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:16

thepharcyde said:
because 2:39 is clearly a tap

Oh I'm sorry, what did you want them to do? Tell it "bad reindeer" and hope it gives a toss? Wait for the chap with a tranq gun to turn up and possibly have a mauled person on your hands?

No really, what would you have done? Bearing in mind that your duty is to protect the other keepers first, then the animal.

Col_M · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:18

Human well-being > animal well-being, they did well if you ask me , I would have shot it and had reindeer in my freezer, yum

Mr Jack · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:19

-Ad- said:
The woman has been injured by the crazed deer and is bleeding everywhere. What the hell are they supposed to do, let it hurt them some more because of its animal rights

Yes. That's their job.

thepharcyde · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:19

They seem to have it under control. By backing to the gate and getting out. But as I never intend on keeping any wild animals myself, no idea.

AHarvey · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:20

thepharcyde said:
because 2:48 is clearly a tap

To a reindeer yes.

It's subjective to the thing being hit. For instance, If I was to punch you in the face you end up on your backside with a nice bruise, if I was to punch a child with the same force I'd probably kill it.

I've tried to find some videos online to back this up but can't find any :S

Sure I had some documentaries somewhere with reindeer fighting, it's nasty stuff!

Mr Jack · 12 Mar 2010 at 10:21

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
No really, what would you have done? Bearing in mind that your duty is to protect the other keepers first, then the animal.

Given that they had three people, and they manged to get the reindeer pretty well restrained by holding it's antlers and bending the neck, worked the reindeer into a position near the door made their exit and locked the animal in. Or tranq'd it.

Also, frankly, the zoo should have procedures and staff training in place to deal with situations like this. Whacking it with a shovel shouldn't be part of that.