Tigers attack tamer at Hamburg zoo

A dinner circus show descended into horror when five tigers attacked and mauled their tamer in Hamburg, Germany.

Shocked guests had turned up for the anticipated spectacle at ‘Pagels Dinner Circus’ – a show at the Tierpark Hagenbeck zoo featuring artists, animals and a high-end menu, which tickets ranging from €90-€132.

Just after the performance had begun in front of the 170-strong audience, animal trainer Christian Walliser (28) tripped suddenly in the cage and lost control of his five Bengal tigers for an instant. He didn’t stand a chance.

The big cats bit his head and torso and ripped off his hand. “It looked as if they want to play with their prey,” one witness said.

Another trainer managed to force the tigers back into their pens and emergency rescuers fought for Christian Walliser’s life inside the 140-square metre arena.

The show's director, Stefan Pagels, said the horror attack was a tragic accident: "The incident was not a malicious attack.

"An accident even with especially top-rate performances - with animals, on the trapeze or on the high-wire - is unfortunately always possible."

He added that the animals reportedly wanted to "play" with Christian: "The think skin of a human is unfortunately not able to cope with such playful attacks as the thicker, looser and better-protected skin of another tiger would have been."

Even more tragic was the fact that Christian's friend Ismet M. (27) had been watching on helplessly from the crowd. He and his guest went to the hospital in a state of shock.

The animal trainer arrived at the Eppendorf University Hospital for an emergency operation after the incident on Tuesday and his condition remained life-threatening throughout the night.

Event co-ordinator Korinna Pagels said: “We are very concerned. We are terribly sorry for what happened.”

The tiger terror is reminiscent of one suffered by famous magicians Siegfried and Roy, who started out at the Hansa Theatre. In 2003 Roy’s favourite tiger bit him in the neck during a Las Vegas show. He has been half- paralysed ever since.

Courtesy of Josip Marcan

This is an unfortunate accident that has fallen young Christian, but like Mr. Roy Horn, he has been quoted countless times in the past about the "love" the animals feel for him, and his "new, gentle, kind style of training." I was never anything but gentle as for as I know, but because of public mis perception that was played upon for self promotion. I note there was even an "alibi" for what happened, as there was the quote that "Montecore sensed Roy was having a stroke, and was taking him to safety away from the threatening audience!!!!!" It is not nice to fool mother nature. Best wishes go out to Christian during this tough time.