please don't put down OZ sumartan tiger hamilton zoo nz

The zoo keeper would be the FIRST one to say " don't kill Oz". Its appalling to put down a wild animal for doing what a wild animal does. I will boycott the zoo if that happens.

The tiger was simply being a tiger, and there was no malice in his disastrous action. His keeper loved him, and that is a good reason for not killing him. Please quit with the soft language such as "put to sleep", "put down" and say it as it is; "killed", "destroyed".

Because there must have been a very unfortunate incident in not following zoo policy which put the zoo keeper in the wrong place.It is not the fault of the tiger but the fault of human error. The life of the tiger should not be taken for being exposed by humans to humans. My sympathy does of course go to the lose of human life.
Killing the tiger can not right anything.

Although a very traumatic event took place, I don't believe Oz should be put down for acting out in his usual animal demeanour. He may be in an environment that replicates his natural habitat, fact is, he is not, nor is he there by choice. Humans start off with good intentions trying to preserve certain species of animals, treating them, breeding them, however, sometimes we need to understand that animal instincts are wild as are they. Let him live his life as a Tiger, either in his own natural environment or the environment he is currently living in. Is it not possible for a group of intelligent minds to come together with a strategy to implement safer contact practices with animals that have stronger wild instincts?! Or have all the potential options been exhausted?! Let Oz be!

Sumatran tigers are an endangered species. You can't blame a tiger for being a tiger

Thou it is tragic and very sad what happens the tiger acted on natural instinct

I don't think she would won't him put down

Please don't put down this beautiful animal. ... the trainer should not have been in there, so there must have been a mistake made. You can't punish an animal that is in captivity for doing something that comes natural as the tiger is a predatory animal

Can't put down a tiger for doing what it naturally does, its humans that have chosen to contain them in zoo's and look after them. We wouldn't put it down out in the wild so can't put it down in the zoo for being it's normal natured self

To put down a magnificent and rare animal after the, event when it was just following its natural instinct would display total ignorance, and I am dismayed the authorities are even contemplating such an action.

Why did I sign this petition - because Oz is a wild animal in captivity - it is not his fault - human error I would say- as no one is supposed to be in and up close with the animals. Just a tragic accident. These majestic animals are so low in numbers in the wild - Oz is part of the breeding programme - already produced cubs - so sad. Don't get me wrong my condolences to the family of the person killed - as I say just an accident.

#333: -  

 neither do I 

The tiger has not been trained like a dog therefore it should not be treated as a dog would in this instance. Oz is a wild animal performing what its wild instinct says it should. The fault does not lie with the wild tiger.

Mother Nature

The tiger should not be killed for doing what it naturally does. She was in an enclosure with a wild animal.

Because its not the tigers fault it is a wild cat we must respect there territory

Tragic though it may be - I'm sure she wouldn't want it put down for displaying natural behaviour. Aren't they an endangered species? Surely destroying it is not the answer.

The tiger did what it does by instinct. We should not punish it because of that. They belong in the jungle but humans bring them for show and keep them in enclosed. This is very wrong. Save the tigers, not kill them.

Because it was not the Tigers fault!

There is absolutely nothing to be gained from having the tiger put down. It's own instinct as a wild animal and a predator should not be put to blame as tragic as it is.

Because it is a wild animal that is its instinct

Pointless and cruel. The tiger was doing what comes naturally. If these beautiful creatures were allowed to roam around unharmed, they wouldn't need to be in zoos and caged in the first place. If anything, it's humans that are at fault. Stop the madness!

When animals need most to be heard is when we all need to scream as loud as we can for them.

Captivity breeding programmes are necessary to keep these populations alive but certainly they are still wild animals that need to be respected and provided with save enclosures which allow normal behaviour. I feel in Nz we are very focused on conservation and the animal welfare is the zoos first priority. We need to remember theses animals natural habitats are being destroyed by humans and that is what make captivity necessary. My condolences to the family and friends if the keeper and the Hamilton Zoo team x