The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development,
Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) has confirmed that it is investigating
the incident whereby a man was killed by a tiger at Seaview Predator Park in
Gqeberha on Youth Day and this will determine whether or not the tiger will be
euthanised.
An employee at the park, David Solomon, died on Wednesday when
a Siberian Tiger, Jasper, escaped his enclosure and pulled Solomon, who was climbing
up a fence to get to safety, down from the fence, seemingly breaking his neck.
Solomon, who worked at the park for 15 years, also had bite marks but was allegedly not mauled by the tiger.
According to the park owners, work was being done on the
electric fence of Jasper’s enclosure when the incident took place.
Jasper also killed a fellow male Siberian Tiger, Judah, to apparently
gain the attention of female Siberian Tiger, Amber.
Seaview Predator Park announced on its Facebook Page on
Thursday, June 17, that Jasper’s incident is a first at the park and fuelled by
hormones.
“Jasper is now quite calm and content sharing an enclosure
with Amber and there are no plans to destroy Jasper,” the owners said in a
media statement.
However, the DEDEAT said that it will conduct an
investigation according to the approved Standard Operation Procedures that
govern investigations. The Department also confirmed that the park had all the
necessary permits to keep tigers and it had complied with the required fencing
specifications.
“The investigation into the incident will determine the
decision to euthanise the tiger,” the DEDEAT said on its social media
platforms.
The Department also confirmed that it had concluded its
investigation into an earlier incident with the escaped hyenas at the same park.
One of the hyenas was shot when it approached an employee. The DEDEAT found
that the park representative acted in self defense and had adhered to the
Threatened or Protected Regulations.
As part of the investigation, the Department documented
details of its compliance visit following the incident. Detailed reports were
submitted for review by the DEDEAT as part of meeting the permit conditions. In
this case, the Department found the facility was compliant with the conditions
and no further action was proposed.
These are not the only incidents that threw the park into
the spotlight this year. In March 2021, the elderly owners of the park were robbed
at gunpoint approximately 300m from the main gate.
They were also assaulted before their money and cell phones
were taken.
Seaview Predator Park announced on Facebook yesterday that the park will be closed until further notice.
