Oh, no tigers - what would you do?

[Miss Chicken]

I was just reading about how two tigers escaped from their enclosure at a zoo in India and the how people panicked. Luckily in this case the tigers never escaped from the actual zoo and were tranquilised after the zoo was evacuated.

But I was wondering what you think you would do if you saw a couple of tigers roaming around in your town/city? Imagine you are just strolling around and are on a bridge when you spot them. As a result there are no buildings that you can escape into and you are not near your own car.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

A great question, Miss Chicken!

I'd try to flag down a car and get in. If there were no cars, I'd pick up something, wave it around, throw things and make lots of noise (that won't be hard anyway I imagine, seeing as two tigers are bearing down on me). Hopefully, they'll either think "ooh eh, he's scary, not prey" or else "wtf?" and leave me be. Running and screaming will get me labeled prey in that little kitty brain, and I'll be mauled and chewed on.

I don't have a gun, so that's out. The water's a bad idea, as tigers are very good swimmers and happy in the water. Climbing seems suspect; these are cats, after all (even if they're giant ones). As for shitting myself, my sphincter will tighten to the point it shoots up out of my body like a spear of rigid metal, so I don't think that'll be happening...

 

[Miss Chicken]

I actually meant to put picking up something and waving it around in the poll but I accidently left it out. I though maybe if you had an umbrella you could try and frighten the tigers with it like Indy's dad did with the birds.

 

[Mr. B]

I would have to imagine the smart thing to do is not make any sudden or threatening movements so would probably stand still or continue walking slowly. Unless said tigers are hungry I probably wouldn't have much cause to be frightened. That said, I'm not sure what the established "right" thing to do is.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

I would have to imagine the smart thing to do is not make any sudden or threatening movements so would probably stand still or continue walking slowly. Unless said tigers are hungry I probably wouldn't have much cause to be frightened. That said, I'm not sure what the established "right" thing to do is.

Neither am I. However, I sort of assume that most predators back down if you make enough noise, fuss and displays of aggression.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Probably invite them for tea and hope they don't eat me out of house and home.

 

[RoJoHen]

I love that "shit myself" is an option.

Honestly, I would probably freeze, close my eyes, and hope they don't see me.

 

[Jadzia]

If they hadn't seen me. I'd get out of sight as a first priority, and then move to safety while remaining out of sight.

Distance is a factor. If a lot of people are closer to the tiger than I am, I'd feel a lot safer and the situation less urgent.

So if I were a lot closer than most others on the bridge, I would run into the crowd to lessen the chance that I'll be the victim. I'd also look for something to shelter in.

In the bridge scenario you describe I'd be climbing on the bridge as I cannot swim. I'd be concerned that the tiger could jump up, so climbing under the bridge would be more instinctive for me than climbing up. I would prefer to find a safe vantage point where I could watch things to their conclusion, but that's not a priority.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I would shoot them, but if I didnt have a gun I would just stick my hand in their mouths and punch the back of their throats because according to "Manswers" the tiger has a strong gag reflex and if you are getting attacked by one just punch it in the back of its throat and it will let you go and start choking and give you time to run away.

Of course you might leave your arm behind in the process.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I would offer them tuna fish sandwiches. Word is, they'll do anything for one.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I'd look for Roy.

 

[Warp Coil]

See, this would cause a huge dilemma for me. Tigers are my absolute favorite. They're gorgeous. I love cats, and tigers are really big ones, so I would feel compelled to walk up to them and give them a big hug. Yes, of course they're wild and potentially deadly animals. But I'm just not sure if I could help myself!

 

[Tim]

Never get out of the boat!

 

[gturner]

Tigers like to attack from ambush from the rear, so many people in rural parts of India where tigers attacks are a problem wear halloween masks on the back of their heads. This makes the tiger think it's attacking from the wrong direction so it will try to circle around unseen. So I would not turn my back on the tiger.

They also likely go for the weakest member of the herd, so I would try to call some children over, if any are around. Failing that, tigers are solitary, so if the two have remained together it might be mating time. So I would try to drive off the male with a threat display and then mount the female, establishing my dominance and hopefully getting on Youtube.

 

[Star Wolf]

Tigers like to attack from ambush from the rear, so many people in rural parts of India where tigers attacks are a problem wear halloween masks on the back of their heads. This makes the tiger think it's attacking from the wrong direction so it will try to circle around unseen. So I would not turn my back on the tiger.
.

I heard that also. It reminds me we are trained not to look directly at dogs as they will attack so I use dog tactics. Don't let it get behind you and try to back away.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

What would I do? In the words of a certain Klingon warrior:

Die.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Come on, I'm the only one here who's man enough to pick the "shit myself" option?

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'd trade a dollar-off Frosted Flakes coupon for my life.

Actually, if Tigers were loose in the city, they would not likely to be much of a threat to people unless cornered. People are not their natural prey and they would likely not be in hunting mode-- more likely they would be in getting the hell away to the jungle or forest or prairie or anything but the city mode. If they seemed to be coming my way, I'd just back away slowly or climb a fence or duck down an alley or something.

 

[Holdfast]

Why, drug it and then compose a song while waiting to return it to Mike Tyson. Duh.

 

[RandyS]

Option number 3 with a modification. I'd shoot AT them in order to scare them off.