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All of us here at the Minnesota Zoo are deeply saddened to hear about what happened at the San Francisco Zoo. We offer our sympathy to everyone involved in this tragedy.
Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not speculate or comment on this incident. Minnesota Zoo Conservation Director & noted tiger expert Dr. Ron Tilson will not be available to answer general questions on Amur tigers at this time.
At the Minnesota Zoo, the safety of our guests, employees and animals is our top priority. The Minnesota Zoo has housed tigers safely without incident on the Northern Trail for nearly thirty years. We are confident that their enclosures are safe.
As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Minnesota Zoo undergoes mandatory accreditation inspections which require safety and emergency standards and protocols that go beyond federal, state or local requirements. Should any new information regarding tiger enclosures come to light, the Minnesota Zoo, like other accredited zoos, would work closely with the AZA to see if any modifications are necessary. However, we are confident that the Minnesota Zoo continues to be a safe place to visit.
A full copy of the AZA accreditation standards can be found at: http://www.aza.org/Accreditation/Documents/AccredStandPol.pdf.
Information about the Minnesota Zoo's tiger exhibit:
The Minnesota Zoo's tiger moat is 24-feet wide and is 18-feet deep.
Fencing in both tiger exhibits ranges between 16.5-18 feet high - meeting and exceeding AZA accreditation standards.
The Minnesota Zoo currently has seven tigers.
For more information on Amur (Siberian) tigers, visit our Amur Tiger page.
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