KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasAudience Question Safety
(Oct. 6) -- Siegfried and Roy have been performing live shows with tigers for more than 30 years. This is the first major attack against one of the illusionists. It has left some former audience members questioning the safety of these animal shows.
The response has been overwhelming at University Medical Center where Roy Horn is recovering from the tiger attack. People have been visiting the impromptu memorial and leaving dozens of flowers. There are also candles and a book for visitors to sign.
Many visitors told Eyewitness News reporter Colleen May that they never felt unsafe but some said they do think more protections are needed during these type of live shows. Hazel Walton who is from England has seen the Siegfried & Roy show nearly 500 times.
They are now lighting candles and praying for Roy's recovery. Walton says Friday's accident has not changed how she feels about the show or the safety of it. "That was an accident. That tiger was trying to protect Roy," Walton said. But other tourists say they aren't so sure. "I think wild animals belong in cages or in the wild habitat. They do not belong in shows," said Ros Blatter who is from Colorado.
"I think they are safe to watch but I think a barrier of some sort -- a plexiglass shield of some sort to watch," said Connecticut resident Richard Merritt, as he described what is needed to protect the audience.
Friday night's accident is the first major attack for the duo on stage. A former employee of the Mirage tells us that in 2000, the tigers chewed through the fence at the Secret Garden and security guards used emergency procedures to get ahold of the tigers before animal handlers stepped in.
This was apparently minutes before the Secret Garden opened to the public. Since then, he tells Eyewitness News that a second fence has been put in. This former employee who was fired because of unrelated reasons was hesitant to talk to Eyewitness News on camera because he didn't want to be perceived as a disgruntled fired employee.
The MGM Mirage had no comment.
