One Dead In Tiger Escape

Tuesday, December 25th 2007, 10:21 pm

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Police say a tiger escaped from its cage at the San Francisco Zoo Tuesday, killing one visitor and injuring two others. Several police officers shot the tiger to death when it started moving toward a group of them.

It was not immediately clear how the tiger escaped.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the attack took place in a cafe at the east end of the zoo shortly after closing time. The tiger cages are near the center of the zoo.

Police say officials were initially worried that four tigers had escaped. But only one got out of its pen.

A year ago, one of the zoo's tigers mauled a zookeeper during a regular public feeding. The 350-pound animal reached through the cage's iron bars and badly lacerated her arm.