Zoo reopens gates for the first time since deadly tiger attack

Later this morning most of the San Francisco Zoo will once again be open to the public.

Tiger AttacksOn December 23, the zoo closed suddenly after a 350 lb tiger named Tatiana escaped from "the big cat grotto" and killed a 17-year-old boy and injured his friend and brother. Tatiana was shot and killed.

The zoo reopened briefly for a wedding on New Year's Day, but the tiger and lion exhibits were, of course, closed.

Except for the tiger area, the entire zoo will be open for business this morning. But not without controversy and speculation.

Investigators have already discovered that the tiger's main wall was a whopping 4 ft shorter than recommend by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. And the deceased boy's attorney, Mark Geragos, has accused zoo officials of not acting fast enough during the attack. He'll also likely get around to mentioning that Tatiana attacked a zoo keeper last year.

The director of the zoo says some of his employees put their lives on the line and says the tiger was more than likely provoked.

"There is no possible way the cat could have made it out of there in a single leap," said Manuel Mollinedo in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. "I would surmise that there was help. A couple of feet dangling over the edge could possibly have done it."

Until investigators hand down their findings and security adjustments are made, that part of the zoo will remain closed.

Provoked or not, there's no way a tiger that size should have been able to get out of her cage. The kids may have been cruel, but why wasn't there a staff member nearby to stop them? Would a toddler throwing popcorn or an infant crying in a stroller provoke the animal enough to propel it out of the cage?

Shouldn't the walls be high enough that no matter how mad an animal gets, it can't get out?

In the end, those boys shouldn't have been in any danger. No matter what they did.

Would you visit the San Francisco Zoo right after such a deadly attack?