In January, two privately owned tigers were on the loose, one in the south of Joburg and the other in the east of the city. Tigers are not native to South Africa, so here are some helpful tips on what to do if you come across a tiger.
In 2015, when a white tiger escaped from a zoo in Tbilisi, Georgia, The Guardian reported the following advice from TigerTime’s Vicky Flynn, a campaign to save wild tigers, on what to do in an encounter with a tiger. WikiHow also had some valuable tips.
– Do not run even if your instincts tell you to become Usain Bolt. Like all cats, tigers enjoy a chase.
– Stay away from the tiger. He may look like a cute kitty, but he’s not. He will attack you. Tigers, especially captive tigers, will be frightened by the unusual environment and will probably be very agitated.
– Get yourself somewhere high. Tigers are not good climbers and will generally not follow you up a tree.
– Stand tall. If you appear defenseless, it will attack you. Don’t play dead.
– Do not antagonize the tiger. It can be mutilated.
– Do not urinate in the territory of a tiger. South African men may have a pee anywhere culture, but this must be resisted. Tigers mark their territory and if you do the same, the tiger will see you as a threat.
Remember, this is not the tiger from the movie. The life of Pi, where he eventually accepted the human. If you are attacked by a tiger, you may get shot.
