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Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy ť

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   Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy

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Topic: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy (Read 162 times)

Rhune
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Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 12:37am »

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Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
Thursday, October 9, 2003 Posted: 12:15 AM EDT (0415 GMT)

(CNN) -- Despite reports to the contrary, Siegfried Fischbacher said Wednesday that the white tiger named Montecore did not maul his partner, magician Roy Horn, during a Las Vegas, Nevada, show last week.

Instead, Fischbacher said on CNN's "Larry King Live," Montecore attempted to help his trainer offstage after Horn fell down.

"A tiger, when he grabs you, it's the strength," Fischbacher said. "He thinks it's another tiger, and another tiger has [thick] skin like this, and the fur."

The tiger put its jaws around Horn's neck to lift him as a mother cat does with her cubs, Fischbacher said in the interview, his first since the accident.

Unaware of its strength, the 7-year-old tiger ended up causing Horn severe injuries that have left the performer in critical condition since Friday's show, he said.

Audience members who witnessed the show at the MGM Mirage said it appeared the tiger momentarily lashed out at his trainer, mauling him and then dragging him offstage.

One audience member said Horn looked like a rag doll in the tiger's mouth.

"Listen, I say it was an accident," Fischbacher said. "If it would be that the tiger would be out for killing Roy, it would [have happened] in no time."

Fischbacher spoke from Los Angeles, California, just two hours after visiting his longtime performing partner in a Las Vegas hospital.

He said Horn is responding and communicating. "His color is back," Fischbacher said.

Fischbacher and the duo's manager, Bernie Yuman, said the 59-year-old Horn had a stroke after suffering massive blood loss in the attack and has had two surgeries since then.

"Roy has the will of a thousand men, and I think probably a lesser man wouldn't have gotten to this point," Yuman said. "We really believe that we're about to turn the corner."

"I always say I'm the magician, and he's the magic," Fischbacher said. "He's doing his magic. He's so strong, he's unbelievable."

There has been no change in Horn's condition since the attack Friday, hospital officials said. Horn remains in critical condition.

USDA investigates
CNN learned Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an investigation of the show for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

The act requires that during public exhibition an animal must be handled in such a way that there is minimal risk of harm to both the animal and the public, a USDA spokesman said.

There must also be "sufficient distance and/or barriers between animal and audience," the spokesman said.

In the Siegfried & Roy show, the audience sat close to the stage with no barriers.

Agriculture inspectors would not say specifically what they are investigating, but public officials in Las Vegas are considering whether there should be new regulations.

The USDA conducted routine inspections of the Siegfried & Roy show four times in the past three years and found no violations. There was one inspection in 2000, two in 2001, and one last December, the USDA spokesman said.

Fischbacher said he has been overwhelmed by the public support he and Horn have received since the accident.

"I never [could] imagine that Siegfried & Roy was that popular and loved," he said. "What we achieved is something. This is bigger. This is huge."

Combining magic tricks with tiger stunts, Siegfried & Roy have performed on the Las Vegas strip for nearly 30 years.

CNN correspondent Jeff Flock contributed to this report.

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Rhune
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #1 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 12:38am »

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Hmm, I thought "you're crazy!" till I got to the part where he points out if the tiger wanted to kill him, he would be dead. He has a point there...

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MzWings
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #2 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 4:10pm »

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I believe Siegfried is absolutely correct. If that huge animal had wanted to kill Roy - he could have instantly. We'll never know though - if Montecore was "hiding" his kill or protecting Roy. Apparently he offered no resistance when approached.

Off the subject a little - I also believe that the audience should be afforded some type of protection - perhaps a tall and thick reinforced plexiglass (non-glare) solid cage thing. I thought of having something like that could be put in front of the audience but that might present a danger in case of fire.

Lotsa years ago, hubby and I went to see S & R in Las Vegas but we were toward the back and up above. I just remember wondering what could happen should one of the cats get spooked or go berserk.

I so pray Roy continues to heal and that Montecore isn't put down. Does anyone know if this cat is still being quarantined in the hotel? I sure hope not.

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luci
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #3 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 5:42pm »

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Excuse me here, Roy is hanging on by a thread for his life. The only reason he isn't dead is because the attendants got the tiger off him. Roy should carry a tranquilizer gun and at least put the animals out if he feels threatened.

I hear he also had a stroke.
No surprize to me, how horrifying!

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Rhune
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #4 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 6:34pm »

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As far as I know, they are still holding him. I'm certain the animal will be put down, most states have laws regarding this sort of thing, and even if it was an accident, it is very likely he will still have to be put down.

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MzWings
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #5 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 6:49pm »

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The only reason I can think of to put him down is that "first taste of blood". I don't believe for a second that either Roy or Siegfried would have brought this animal on stage if there had been the slightest chance of something like this occuring.

Siegfried is on ET right now discussing this horrible situation.

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luci
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Re: Siegfried: Tiger wanted to help Roy
« Reply #6 on: Oct 9^th, 2003, 10:28pm »

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We have to keep remembering this is a wild animanl after all!
Wings, my thoughts exactly, this animal has tasted human blood, so it may very well be a reason to put him down.

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