Italian police are investigating after one of the country’s most famous tamers was killed by four tigers he was training.
Ettore Weber died Thursday evening during a rehearsal at Marina Orfei Circus in Triggiano, Bari, Italian newspaper Repubblica reported.
Police said they think one tiger bit Weber, prompting the other three to attack. The animals mauled the tamer for some 20 minutes, according to Notizie.it.
Some 118 people tried to rescue Weber, but he died from his injuries. He was in his early sixties.
Weber’s show was part of the circus’s “Animal Park” event, which featured live animals from five continents. It was due to run from June 15 to July 14. The circus did not immediately respond to Newsweek‘s request for comment.
Weber’s death provoked fierce criticism on social media of circuses that feature wild animals. One Twitter user wrote: “Animals have to stay where nature puts them, stop. You can’t torture them for your own profit and delight.”
Sofia Marinelli@TopaM79Procura di Bari apre inchiesta per ricostruire l’incidente a Ettore Weber, domatore del circo Orfei, ucciso da una tigre durante le prove a Triggiano. Che vuoi ricostrui’? Un animale selvatico, per quanto addestrato, resta selvatico. Se lo tratti da giocattolo ci scappa il morto.
Gianluca #IoBalloConLaura@Gianluc54410558Gli animali devono stare dove la natura li mette, stop. Non puoi torturarli per il tuo profitto e diletto.
User Lello Pinto called those who run circuses with wild animals “beasts.” “A decent parent doesn’t take their children to see animals behind bars,” Pinto added.
User Katerina Medici said she was not “at all” sorry about the tragedy. “This is not their natural habitat,” she wrote. “Let these animals go free.”
“Karma is a b****,” tweeted another user. “Another reason not to use animals in circuses.”
Taltos@taltos_mxp_yyz
Karma is a bitch. Altro motivo per non usare animali nei circhi. #Bari, #tigre sbrana famoso addestratore al #CircoOrfei e lo uccide: Ettore Weber https://www.fanpage.it/attualita/bari-tigre-sbrana-addestratore-al-circo-orfei-e-lo-uccide-tragedia-durante-le-prove/ … via @fanpage
Bari, tigre sbrana addestratore al Circo Orfei e lo uccide: tragedia durante le prove
Tragedia al Circo Orfei allestito nelle campagne di Triggiano, vicino al centro commerciale Bariblu. Secondo quanto appreso una tigre, durante le prove dello spettacolo, ha azzannato il suo addestr…
fanpage.it
‘s other TweetsUser Paola Massari said she was “dismayed, of course,” but added: “This could also be an opportunity to stop exploiting, segregating and mistreating exotic animals.”
But some Twitter users hit back at critics. One said those “rejoicing” over Weber’s death wouldn’t do the same if he was their own friend or relative. The user added: “If you are so opposed to the mistreatment of animals in the circus, why don’t you actually take action?”
G I O@mccharmlypaulSiete di una piccolezza infinita, voi che esultate per la morte di un uomo sbranato da quattro tigri. Immagino che avreste fatto la stessa cosa se al suo posto ci fosse stato vostro padre, vostro figlio, un vostro parente o un vostro amico. #circo #ettoreweber
G I O@mccharmlypaulSe siete così contrari al maltrattamento degli animali nel circo, perché non vi attivate concretamente? Al posto di scrivere “godo”, “se lo è meritato”, “finalmente”.
Italy’s parliament voted to phase out animal circus acts in November 2017, with a requirement that new legislation be outlined within a year. Campaign group Animal Defenders International hailed the move as “a major breakthrough” for animal rights.
In the U.S., some states have banned the use of exotic wild animals in circuses. When New Jersey governor Phil Murphy signed such a bill into law last December he said he was proud his state would no longer allow animals to be “exploited and cruelly treated.” He added: “These animals belong in their natural habitats or in wildlife sanctuaries, not in performances where their safety and the safety of others is at risk
Exposing the Big Game 
Wow. While there’s no need to rejoice as was written in the article, it does show the folly and danger of keeping wild animals. Now I suppose the tigers will be killed because of the warped human reasoning of keeping them captive and expecting them not to behave naturally, and ‘bow to their masters’. 😦 This is outdated thinking, and nobody needs this kind of thing as entertainment anymore!
And I beg to differ, if it were myself, a friend, or a relative – there are risks involved to be aware of, and that you accept (at least I would). Even hiking in the West, something could happen, and I would insist and beg that a bear or other animal not be destroyed because of me. It’s the risk I take. But of course, laws wouldn’t care what I thought.
Unfortunately.
gov murphy said that but he lies because right now on his desk is a very very cruel bill to kill deer at all hours of the day and night and treat them in the worst cruel abusive way. it is on his desk. we are begging him not to sign that bill
This famous “tamer” got what he deserved….live by the sword, die by the sword, etc. A very fitting ending to a crappy career putting on tough guy shows while abusing animals.
Thank goodness the tigers are being sent (supposedly) to a safari park:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48886443
I fail to understand the mentality of anyone who would force wild animals to endure the indignity & cruel training methods utilised by circuses! Just as bad, are the individuals who deem it acceptable to pay to watch such cruelty! These acts of barbarism belong in the Dark Ages.