Tigers Hate Cinnamon...

I have never understood the people who taunt animals at the zoo. You see them every time you go - tapping on the glass, yelling out to get their attention or, worst of all, throwing things. I know most of the time the animals aren't actually doing much, just kind of laying around or sleeping, and that can get a little frustrating when you paid good money to see them moving around. (Worst of all are pandas. Seriously, people spend hours in line to see these things and they never want to come out of their cave. I think China is sending us the defective ones.) Still, that doesn't give anyone the excuse to mess with these once-wild animals. Never forget that they didn't sign up for this. It is one thing to be pissed if you go to a concert and the musical act refuses to get on stage because they were the ones who booked this show. In that instance you can voice your displeasure in any means you see fit. But these animals are there against their will and under no obligation to give you and your family a show. Not to mention, it is unrealistic to expect them to be active all the time and it is not like animals have any concept of 'business hours'.

Still, the people who tap the glass seem like model citizens compared to the people who take the insane step of entering the enclosures. It seems as though every couple of years someone decides to hop the fence and get up close and personal, forgetting that while these animals may be in a zoo that doesn't make them pets. Well, this week it happened in the Bronx Zoo where a 25 year-old man jumped into the tiger enclosure and was promptly mauled. He suffered numerous injuries before being rescued after about 10 minutes. When asked why he went in the man replied that he, "wanted to be one with the tiger." I guess he should have seen how the tiger felt about it. Now, I'm going to assume this man was either under the influence of drugs or should have been, because a sane person never would have tried this. Never confuse lackadaisical behavior with tame - that wild side is still in all those animals, they are simply looking for a reason to bring it out, which this man provided. On top of all that he will be arrested for trespassing as soon as he is released from the hospital. At least then we will get to see how he likes it when people start tapping on his cage.

[Sidebar: This may be the most unintentionally hysterical video in history. I have a thousand questions. For example, do you think they did this video in one take and without permits? Also, why is the piano player the only member of the band who doesn't have a leather jacket? Did he forget it on the day of shooting and not have time to run home? Also, who told them berets were a good look? I could go on for days...]