Tag Archives: liger attack

Mar 19 2013

LEOPARD ATTACK AT SAFARI’S IN 2004

Safari's Oscar - African leopard

Oscar, one of Safari’s two melanistic (black) African leopards, attacked and seriously injured one of Safari’s employees, Jon Soltis, on December 11, 2004, the same day that his (Oscar’s) two cubs were removed from their mother Mirage, Oscar’s mate living in the enclosure next door to his. Both adult leopards were emotionally disturbed by the removal of the newborn cubs.The cubs were only two days old at the time, but the intent was for them to be raised by humans and bottle fed, to increase their docility—for use at “interactive zoos.” Bagheera went to Tiger Safari in Tuttle, OK, when he was two weeks old. Amadeus was removed from his brother Bagheera’s company when he was only five days old and was raised at Kurt Beckelman’s home until he was old enough to come back to be on display at Safari’s. He soon went home to become Kurt’s permanent pet.

Read a previous post, for more information:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428799703864388.1073741826.375092402568452&type=1


All supporting documents and photos to this blog post can be viewed through this link to the post on Safari’s Truth Destination Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.434728089938216.1073741828.375092402568452&type=1

Jon went in to Oscar’s enclosure to clean and soon after, Oscar attacked him from behind, biting into his scalp and left forearm. Stacy Scroggins, the husband of the park’s owner Lori Ensign-Scroggins, was in the area, outside of Oscar’s cage. Stacy punched Oscar in the head and hit him with a shovel to get the leopard off of Jon. Lori drove Jon to the emergency room, where he received stitches. The ER doctor was told that the injury was caused by a dog (an excuse used often for injuries caused by Safari’s animals to avoid problems with and penalties from the USDA).

Someone did report the attack and injury to the USDA, though, and it was included as a finding in a January 2005 inspection by one of the agency’s inspectors (all are veterinarians). From the report (see screen cap of this page from the report in photo album attached to this post):

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“In a separate incident reported to us by [identity removed], another part time employee was attacked by a leopard. In this incident, a female leopard was housed in an enclosure next to a male leopard. Babies were removed from the female enclosure. This caused the adult animals to be agitated. An employee later entered the male enclosure and was attacked by the animal on the arm and shoulder. Animals shall be handled as expeditiously and carefully as possible to avoid stress, physical harm and unnecessary discomfort. Handlers must be experienced and able to apply their knowledge of safety.”

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In a series of comments (in response to comments made by us) posted both to a recent article on KJRH and on her personal FB page, Lori Ensign-Scroggins, admitted to breeding the leopards, to having the cubs taken from their mother, and to the leopard attack. However, she blames a lack of communication with staff in not informing them soon enough to stay away from the leopards to avoid problems. Below is what she wrote related to those subjects, including her recopying the portions of my (Jolie’s) comments before her response to each. [No changes were made to the spelling or capitalization—this is how it was posted on the article, with the exception of my adding spacing between paragraphs. Lori’s responses are in CAPS]:

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Lori wrote:

QUOTE

JolieAdams QUOTE: Lori Ensign-Scroggins bred two of Safari’s black African leopards Mirage and Oscar, with the result of three litters of cubs. The first litter was born in December 2004. TWO DAYS after the cubs were born, they were removed from their mother, to be raised by humans and bottle fed, to socialize them with humans and allow them to be handled for entertainment purposes for other interactive zoos and sanctuaries and possible as private pets.

THE TRUTH: YES THERE WERE BABIES BACK IN 2004. THEY WERE CONTRACTED TO A USDA ORGANIZATION WHO WANTED THE WHOLE LITTER. WE PULLED THEM AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE OTHER ZOO. TO A ZOO. AND BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE THAT, WE STOPPED BREEDING AFTER THAT! JUST TO APPEASE GOSSIPING HATERS?! ZOO’S BREED FOR OTHER ZOO’S ALL THE TIME. GENERALLY GETTING POSITIVE FUN LOVING PRESS FROM IT. WHY IS THIS AN ATTACK? OTHER THAT TO JUST TRY TO CAUSE TROUBLE? PERIOD.

Removing those cubs distressed the mother leopard Mirage and upset her mate Oscar. That same day, Oscar attacked one of the volunteers who came into the cage to care for him, resulting in serious injuries that required the care of emergency room treatment.

YEP. IT HAPPENED. I WAS WALKING UP ONE HILL TO TELL THE CREW WE HAD BABIES, AND NOT TO GO INTO CAGES, OR EVEN THAT AREA. THEY WERE COMING DOWN OTHER HILL TO FEED AND CLEAN. IT HAPPENED. THIS IS WORKING WITH EXOTICS. WE HAVE LOCKOUTS FOR THESE GUYS NOW. NEVER EVER GOING IN WITH THE LEOPARDS.

END QUOTE

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Even while admitting to the above, she still chose to lie about: 1) Only being one litter bred from Mirage and Oscar. There were three litters born. 2) The “whole litter” of two cubs did NOT go to the same zoo. One (Bagheera) went to Bill Meadows at Tiger Safari in Tuttle, OK, and the other remained at Safari’s (Amadeus), as documented by many photos taken and posted online of Amadeus, who was raised by and then went to live permanently with Kurt Beckelman, Safari’s park manager for many years up through the present. This has been carefully documented, in previous post on this page, which I am including in this post for the second time, for ease of access to readers:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428799703864388.1073741826.375092402568452&type=1

AZA accredited zoos in the US when breeding cubs—not one would think of removing cubs from their mother at two days of age to send off to another zoo. A recent, local example of breeding large felids by an accredited zoo is the two jaguar cubs born at the Tulsa Zoo in April 2012. Their mother Ixchel nursed and raised them. This breeding was carefully planned through the Species Survival Plan. They will stay at the Tulsa Zoo until they are of mature breeding age.

http://www.tulsazoo.org/contact-the-tulsa-zoo/media/press-releases/first-jaguar-cubs-born-at-tulsa-zoo/

The Tulsa Zoo did have an endangered Malayan tiger birth in 2012 to first-time mother Jin. After 24 hours from the birth, Jin lost interest and left the cub alone for several hours (not uncommon for first-time tiger mothers, according to the zoo). The newborn cub was removed to be examined and have blood work done. Based on concern about lack of maternal care, Berani the cub was hand raised for six weeks before it then went to live at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, to become foster brothers with another tiger cub and learn how to be a tiger in a safe environment.

http://www.tulsazoo.org/contact-the-tulsa-zoo/media/press-releases/beranis-big-adventure

In both of these instances at the Tulsa Zoo, the number one priority for breeding these large felids was survival of the species. After the births, the number one concern was for the health and well-being of the mothers and their cubs.

At Safari’s—one of the (formerly) USDA approved “zoos” that Lori mentions, the choices made for breeding and hand raising cubs were commercial—to create babies for sale or trade to be used at zoos for entertainment purposes—to draw in the public to the parks to see the babies and, at some interactive zoos, possibly handle them or have photos taken with them. This is NOT against the law. However, it does contradict what Lori has said is the mission of Safari’s and disputes her frequent assertions that she does not buy or breed the animals at Safari’s—that all are rescues. This is defrauding the public, keeping people uninformed about what activities their donations of money and time are really going toward. Why does Lori misrepresent these activities—keeping them hidden, if they are legal? Because she knows that some people would not approve. By representing the park as an all-rescue facility, she will gain more sympathy and financial and volunteer support.

There are conflicting reports on whether or not Jon was informed to stay away from the leopard cages that day. Lori states that the staff were not informed in time (in her comment posted above), one former staff member remembers that night Jon was specifically instructed to keep away because Mirage was agitated by having her cubs removed but he ignored those instructions, and another former staff member states that both Jon and Kurt told her the following week that Jon had been told to clean those cages and he was following instructions that night.

Regardless of whether or not management was responsible for instructing Jon to clean the leopard cages or told him to stay away from them, we do know that the leopard bite was reported as a dog bite to ER personnel.

With Lori’s long history of not telling the truth and passing blame to someone else, it’s not difficult to believe that she might misrepresent the facts of that night, just as she did after the liger attack that resulted in the death of Peter Getz. Lori said in 2008 that safety protocols were in place and PETE did not follow them, without ever revealing to the public the important fact that Kurt Beckelman was with Pete feeding the big cats that day and KURT was the one who opened the gate for Pete to throw the deer carcass into the liger’s enclosure. Nor did she or Kurt admit that, even though a catwalk was already in place to safely feed the liger, there were times when it was NOT used. The day Pete was attacked was not the first time the gate to the enclosure was opened to feed the liger.You can read Lori’s recent comments in full, posted to the March 8, 2013, article here:

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/broken_arrow/Safaris-Animal-Sanctuary-in-Broken-Arrow-is-looking-for-donations-and-volunteers

And you can also read Mike Ensign’s comments posted to that article, as well. Mike is Lori’s brother who lives out of state. You might find a family ‘resemblance’ in the way they communicate with others.You can read the full text of her ‘End of a Relationship Post’ with all her comments in one essay below (and see the screen caps of the post in the photo album attached to this post).In a new post later this week, we will address the full remarks of Lori’s and identify the lies told within them.

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Lori wrote:

QUOTE

Lies and twisted sick truths of people with no life. THIS IS LONG AND BORING – I THINK – BUT IT’S ANSWERS IF YOU WONDERED… You know you’ve “made it” when you have haters! I’ve been doing rescue for 18 official years, and exotics unofficially since I was 18. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. But most of my biggest mistakes are the people who I have allowed in my world. I trust all. Which in the “good world” is a good thing. But there are worse predators out there than ANY lion or tiger. People who thrive on hurt, lies, manipulation, and the ruthless sense of power. I generally do not give ANY response to this people, for they thrive on reaction, and gain power from hurt. But I have been getting lots of posts from friends that don’t understand my methods. For one, I refuse to pay to sue a person, use good money on a bad person. Hence giving them more joy and power, and wasting more of my time to prove their stupidity. I will address these haters – most being the same person under aliases to give her multiple personalities someone to talk to. Here is the real truth page addressing the lies on her “truth page”. If that isn’t twisted in itself?! Until I hear from so many of you – I have these crazies “blocked” so I don’t read the crap. But when everyone keeps bringing it up – I get sick of responding over and over individually… so here goes.. her twisted posts and my responses in CAPS. JolieAdams aka Ivy Cooper — FORMER VOLUNTEER OF WHICH WE LET GO. SHE BLATANTLY THRIVES ON PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIVES. LAUGHS AND ENJOYS THIS. HAS NO JOB, STAY HOME MOM, WITH ALL DAY TO PLAY ON COMPUTER, AND GET A POWER TRIP BY THESE GAMES. Her attack & lies: Lori Ensign-Scroggins lied about the circumstances surrounding intern Peter Getz’s death in 2008, resulting from the liger attack at Safari’s Sanctuary. It was normal procedure to open many of the big cats’ enclosures to feed them, even go inside the cage right near the big cats, not separated from them, to feed them and clean their cage. We have photo proof of it, which was sent to the USDA more two months ago, that this behavior never changed–they continue to feed in reckless and dangerous ways. WE DO GO IN WITH SOME EXOTICS, ARE BUILDING LOCKOUTS FOR THEM ALL, BUT THE ONES WE RAISED ARE STILL SWEETHEARTS, AND ONLY A FEW OF US TRAINED PERSONS DO THIS… WE ONLY GO IN WITH A HANDFUL OF CATS WE RAISED. WE DO NOT TRAIN NEW PEOPLE TO DO THIS, AS WE ARE BUILDING LOCKOUTS AND ALL WILL BE HANDLED THIS WAY AS WE CHANGE. THIS IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW. YOU HAVE PROOF? I POST THE PICTURES, AND EXPLAIN EACH ISSUE DAILY! PROOF OF WHAT? ME LOVING THESE ANIMALS? THE PETER GETZ INCIDENT WAS GOING IN WITH ONE OF THE EXCLUDED ONES THAT NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO GO IN WITH, AND A LOCKOUT HAS BEEN BUILT FOR HIM FOR YEARS, WAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. AND ON THAT DAY, HE CHOSE NOT TO USE IT, TO HIS DEMISE, AND HEARTBREAK OF ALL OF US. IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, AGAINST ALL PROTOCOL. AND WIL HAUNT US FOR LIFE. AS WITH GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR, YOU KNOW THE SPEED LIMIT, YOU KNOW THE PROPER ROADS TO TAKE, YOU KNOW THE RULES. BUT SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SPEED IN EXCESS OF SAFE LIMITS, CHOOSE TO GO OFFROAD, CHOOSE TO DRINK AND DRIVE, CHOOSE TO THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. THAT CHOICE SOMETIMES HAS BAD CONSEQUENSES. DOES THAT MEAN “DON’T DRIVE?” Her attack & lies: This is why the park will never be re-licensed by the USDA while Lori and her key staff are connected to it in any way whatsoever. Take a look for yourself. THIS IS A LIE. I GAVE UP MY LICENSE WILLINGLY. I COULD HAVE CONTINUED, BUT I PHYSICALLY CANNOT DO ALL THAT I COULD DO 10-15 YEARS AGO, DUE TO MY DEBILITATING DISEASE OF MULTIPLE SCHLEROSIS. STRESS DRIVEN IN PART BY USDA AND SICK PEOPLES GAMES. THE WAY THE USDA OPERATES IS THIS… THEY COME ANNUALLY FOR INSPECTIONS, WRITE UP ANYTHING THEY INTERPRET AS OFFENSIVE. REFLECTING ON A VAGUE RULE BOOK THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED MANY WAYS. EXAMPLE: Structure; construction. Housing facilities for dogs and cats must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They must be kept in good repair, and they must protect the animals from injury, contain the animals securely, and restrict other animals from entering. WRITTEN UP FOR RUST ON PAINTED METAL… IT HAPPENS, WE ARE IN HUMIDITY OKLAHOMA! WE FIX THIS, BUT IT CONTINUALLY HAPPENS – WE PAY EXTRA FOR RUSTOLEUM, STILL HAPPENS. THESE SIMPLE WRITE UPS HAPPEN. LOOK AT ANY ZOO, EVEN TULSA ZOO HAS PAGES OF WRITEUPS. THEN EVERY 5-6 YEARS THEY ADD THEM ALL UP, AND CREATE AN INVESTIGATION, THEN CITE YOU, YOU PAY GENERALLY $1000 PER WRITEUP MINIMUM. IT DOES ADD UP. IT WAS TIME FOR OUR 5-6 YEAR INVESTIGATION, AND I WAS ALREADY LOOKING TO LETTING A YOUNGER HEALTHIER CREW TO TAKE OVER, FOR MY MS WAS TAKING OVER. BUT I JUST WASN’T 100% READY TO LET GO –NOT THAT I’LL EVER BE READY TO LET A BUSINESS THAT I HAVE STARTED, AND RUN FOR 18 YEARS OF ALL MY LIFE PASSIONS AND SAVINGS –JUST LET GO- BECAUSE OF ILLNESS. THESE HATERS JUST TOOK A WEAK SITUATION, AND TURNED IT INTO AN OBSESSION FROM JEALOUSY. I’M ONLY 45. IT IS VERY HARD TO ADMIT THAT I CANT DO IT ANYMORE. I USED TO DO EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING! I HAVE HAD A FULL LIFE OF EXPERIENCES THAT MOST ONLY DREAM OF, TRAVEL, MODELING, RACING CARS, EXOTIC ANIMALS, AWESOME JOBS, AT ONE POINT LOTS OF MONEY —WHICH ALLOWED ME TO START THIS RESCUE. MANY PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS OF THINGS I’VE DONE. I LOOK BACK AND CAN’T BELIEVE IT MYSELF. NOW MARRIED TO A GREAT GUY WHO FLYS FOR FREE, SO WHEN I GET TIME OFF, WE FLY AWAY INSTEAD OF STICKING AROUND HOME… IT’S JUST AS FREE TO GO TO HAWAII AS IT IS TO GO TO ARKANSAS. HELLO?? WHICH WOULD YOU DO? ANYWAY – M.S. WHAT IS IT? THAT’S HARD TOOO. IT IS AN INDVISIBLE ILLNESS FOR THE MOST PART. YOUR BODY IS ATTACKING ITS OWN CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. IN MY CASE, IT MAKES BODY PARTS GO NUMB, LOOSE FEELING, LOOSE CONTROL. I HAVE LESION ON MY BRAIN AND SPINE. AS STRESSES INCREASE, MS ATTACKS IN “EPISODES”. AN EPISODE CAN LAST A DAY, WEEK, MONTH… THEN EACH ATTACK LEAVES PERMANENT DAMAGE. YOU NEVER FULLY REGENERATE. THE SPINE LESIONS ARE AFFECTING MY LEFT SIDE, MOSTLY LEFT LEG AND HAND. CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE STIFFNESS, CRAMPING, NUMBNESS, LACK OF CONTROL. THE BRAIN PART AFFECTS MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND SPEECH. WHICH ITS ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS, MY BRAIN IS THINKING SOMETHING, BUT IT DOESN’T GET TO MY MOUTH TO SAY, OR SHOW IT. MY THOUGHTS GET JUMBLED UP, AND I GET ALL FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED. THIS IS NOT GOOD! YOU CANNOT SEE ANY OF IT. SO I APPEAR NORMAL, EXCEPT THE LIMPING (MORE ON SOME DAYS THAN OTHERS)… CLUMSINESS, STUMBLING, DROPPING THINGS. I ACTUALLY LOOK DRUNK! THIS IS MULTIPLE SCHLEROSIS FOR ME. I NO LONGER FEEL I CAN DO SAFARIS JUSTICE, AND IF I HAVE ANOTHER “EPISODE” THE DOCTORS PREDICT IT “COULD BE THE ONE” THAT PUTS ME IN WHEELCHAIR. COULD RUIN MY SPEECH, THOUGHTS, CONTROL. WITH THAT POTENTIAL WEIGHING ON ME, I CANNOT BE IN CHARGE OF 200+ LIVES! I HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE THIS ON, CONTINUE THIS GREAT MISSION TO THE NEXT LEVEL— I’VE STARTED IT. BROUGHT IT THIS FAR, NOW TAKE IT AND RUN! THAT IS WHAT I AM HOPING FOR. ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE PUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OVER 18 YEARS INTO CREATING THIS. WHY SHOULD IT DIE, BECAUSE OF THIS DISEASE?? THE ANSWER IS “IT MUST CONTINUE!”. WITH OR WITHOUT ME, I JUST GOT IT GOING… JolieAdams QUOTE: Lori Ensign-Scroggins bred two of Safari’s black African leopards Mirage and Oscar, with the result of three litters of cubs. The first litter was born in December 2004. TWO DAYS after the cubs were born, they were removed from their mother, to be raised by humans and bottle fed, to socialize them with humans and allow them to be handled for entertainment purposes for other interactive zoos and sanctuaries and possible as private pets. THE TRUTH: YES THERE WERE BABIES BACK IN 2004. THEY WERE CONTRACTED TO A USDA ORGANIZATION WHO WANTED THE WHOLE LITTER. WE PULLED THEM AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE OTHER ZOO. TO A ZOO. AND BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE THAT, WE STOPPED BREEDING AFTER THAT! JUST TO APPEASE GOSSIPING HATERS?! ZOO’S BREED FOR OTHER ZOO’S ALL THE TIME. GENERALLY GETTING POSITIVE FUN LOVING PRESS FROM IT. WHY IS THIS AN ATTACK? OTHER THAT TO JUST TRY TO CAUSE TROUBLE? PERIOD. Removing those cubs distressed the mother leopard Mirage and upset her mate Oscar. That same day, Oscar attacked one of the volunteers who came into the cage to care for him, resulting in serious injuries that required the care of emergency room treatment. YEP. IT HAPPENED. I WAS WALKING UP ONE HILL TO TELL THE CREW WE HAD BABIES, AND NOT TO GO INTO CAGES, OR EVEN THAT AREA. THEY WERE COMING DOWN OTHER HILL TO FEED AND CLEAN. IT HAPPENED. THIS IS WORKING WITH EXOTICS. WE HAVE LOCKOUTS FOR THESE GUYS NOW. NEVER EVER GOING IN WITH THE LEOPARDS. Lori has bred exotics at the park and purchased, sold, and traded them, for years, IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION to her repeated statements and official website stating that all of the animals at Safari’s are rescued. I RESCUE. 90% OF MY ANIMALS ARE RESCUE. I ALSO LOVE ANIMALS, OBVIOUSLY, SO I DID PURCHASE A COUPLE FOR MY ENJOYMENT. THAT IS NOT AGAINST ANY LAW. I LOVE ANIMALS! THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING. JolieAdams QUOTE: Many pseudo sanctuaries do the same thing but they are up front with people about it. That’s the difference. NO. ACTUALLY IT IS NOT. PSEUDO SANCTUARIES TELL YOU THEY RESCUE, WHEN 80% OF THEIR ANIMALS ARE OF THEIR OWN MAKING. THAT IS A LIE. Donors, supporters, and the general public should know the truth. Lori pretends to care about these animals. COME VOLUNTEER. COME SEE MY LIE. NO ONE LEAVES DOUBTING WHAT WE DO. EXCEPT JEALOUS PEOPLE WHO NEVER HAD THE DRIVE TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIFE OTHER THAT BE A MARTYR. IT IS EASY TO SIT AT HOME AND TYPE ON A COMPUTER BAD THINGS ABOUT OTHERS, AND NOT GET OUT OF YOUR PAJAMAS. MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, FOR YOUR GUILT FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING POSITIVE WITH YOUR LIFE. I HAVE MADE MISTAKES. BUT I WENT OUT THERE AND I TRIED TO HELP SOLVE A PROBLEM. WHAT I KNEW WAS A GROWING PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE AND SOCIETY. I KNOW I HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS. I HAVE REACHED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH MY MISSION. I AM SORRY THAT I COULD NOT REACH A FEW UNREACHABLES. WOULD I CHANGE A THING? A FEW. BUT THE MAJORITY… HELL NO! I AM PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE DONE, AND FRUSTRATED THAT I PHYSICALLY CANNOT DO IT ANYMORE. MISS JOLIE, MISS IVY CAMPBELL… WHOEVER YOU ARE TODAY. THIS IS MY RESPONSE. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, POST AWAY. BUT I HAVE TOLD YOU MANY TIMES…… IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT BETTER… COME ON OVER. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE. TRY. I UNDERSTAND THOSE PAJAMAS ARE COMFY, AND THOSE TWINKIES ARE GREAT. STAY IN BED AND BASH ME… I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE, AND I’M PROUD. WHAT ARE YOU PROUD OF? Lori Ensign-Scroggins From here on, I will continue to block you haters, and hope all you good people out there do too. I have just wasted an hour of my time I could have been with my animals…. Grrrrr Any one have any questions, just email me, call me, come volunteer and see for yourself! Have a grrrreat day!

END QUOTE

Mar 7 2013

AFTER THE LIGER ATTACK AT SAFARI’S SANCTUARY: IVY’S STORY

I have been asked on many different occasions why it took me so long to speak up about Safari’s/Lori Ensign, or what happened to get me to where I am just now speaking up about things involving her and/or the park. Here is my story……….

All supporting documents and photos to this blog post are available to read at Safari’s Truth Destination Facebook page through this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.430088733735485.1073741827.375092402568452&type=1

Image

I am assuming most of you have read my USDA affidavit by now, and know what happened what really happened that horrible day that Pete was attacked—not Lori’s false version of events (if not, you should read those three pages in the photo album attached to this post before reading more of this story). This is what happened afterwards……..

The night of the attack, my husband and I made it to the hospital, and before I could even get up to the waiting room, Kurt Beckelman (Safari’s park manager) met me downstairs and handed me a piece of paper with a name “Jonathan” on it and a phone number. He told me he was from out of Africa and that he could help me feed and take care of the park for a couple of weeks till things calmed down. I, still being in shock from earlier that day, thought I was going to be working with a guy from Africa. I asked Kurt if he spoke English, and Kurt said “Yes, he is from out of Africa.” I was still thinking the guy was from Africa and couldn’t get a clear understanding from Kurt. I had no idea that there was a sanctuary in Arizona that was called Out Of Africa….till the next day!

I made it up to the waiting room, and Lori asked me if I could pick up Pete’s sister and other family members, which I did. I don’t remember much of that ride to the airport nor back to the hospital. I think the ride back to the hospital with Pete’s family was quiet. I was still in shock, and Lori had admonished me earlier not to talk about the liger attack with the family, that she wanted be the one to discuss it with them.

Waiting around in the waiting room for news was awful. Tons of people were there, and Lori was on and off the TV giving interviews. Pete’s family was in his hospital room with him all of the time. Friends were in the waiting area. There were lots of hugs being given out, and lots of people crying. Most everyone at Safari’s who wanted to see Pete was able to go in to see him, one at a time. I wanted to visit with him, too, but I was prevented from doing so. My husband even asked Kurt if I could go back and see him. Kurt just ignored him. When I asked Lori, she informed me that since Pete and I were not close friends, I didn’t need to go back there to see him, even though I was the one to keep him alive till the ambulance got there! [Now I understand the most likely reasoning behind Lori and Kurt keeping me away from Pete and his family—to keep his family from learning about what really happened before, during, and after the liger attack. It is also possible that Lori was already contemplating placing the blame for the attack on me (the meaning of this comment will be made clear later in this story). Lori did know what had happened during the big cat feedings and the attack on Peter because when Kurt was talking to her on the phone to tell her about the emergency, I was close by performing CPR on Pete to keep him alive, and one of the parents from the tour group was on the phone at the same time speaking with the 911 operator. Lori left work immediately after getting the news and rushed to Safari’s, whisking Kurt away from the scene shortly after EMSA arrived.]

I remember I sat down on a sofa, and Kurt laid his head in my lap, and we fell asleep together, shortly after hubby waking me up to make sure I was ok, because he wanted to admit me because I had been giving CPR to Pete, and I was covered in blood, also I had been in shock. I stayed a few more hours after that, but there wasn’t much for me to do, so my husband took me home for the night. It wasn’t till the next morning when I was going through my blood-stained clothes that I realized that I had been wearing Pete’s green, zippered hoodie, and my jeans were ruined. Going through the pockets of the jeans, I found at least $200, not knowing how it got there. I had given the tour group’s money back to them before they left, after the tour was ended abruptly because of the attack on Pete. I had suggested to the teachers and parents to buy the kids some ice cream and take them to a park or something, to make up for it. My husband informed me that he thought he saw Lori and her mom slip something in my back pocket as they were giving me hugs, but didn’t think anything of it. This was fine, because Lori had actually owed me for two weeks back pay, as I was not a volunteer but a paid employee. [I was hired in spring of 2001 at a rate of $9 an hour, as advertised in the Tulsa World job classifieds. Several key staff members were paid by Lori to work at Safari’s. The highest paid one that I knew of was Kurt, who bragged he made $800 per month while I worked there. We were paid as “contract labor.” I’m not sure how much of the park’s money went to Lori’s personal benefit. We were all told not to tell anyone we were paid to work at Safari’s because it would conflict with Lori’s statements that all staff at Safari’s were volunteers and that all money donated to the park went directly to the care of the animals. She still insists that’s the truth of how the park operates, but I suspect that some of the staff are still receiving payment for their work and keeping it quiet from the public.] Looking back, I wonder if there was another intention behind Lori and her mom giving me that money that way, at the hospital, when I later discovered they were not telling the truth about Pete’s attack and when I learned they were trying to blame me for it (again, more about that later in this story).

That next morning (the day after the attack), I called Jonathan and asked him if he wanted to help me work the park. He agreed, and I picked him up. He told me about the sanctuary in Arizona called Out of Africa, and I laughed and told him I thought he was from the country Africa. Let me tell you, that man Jonathan, knew things I never learned in my 10 years of working at Safari’s! He knew his stuff. He knew the animals, and taught me so very many things! That first day just blew my mind! He also informed me that a few months before the attack, he came to Safari’s and was a paid guest, and Kurt was his tour guide. Jonathan said he had informed Kurt that someone was going to get hurt if they kept doing what they were doing. I remember him (Jonathan) shaking his head when he’d find a big problem and saying “I told him someone was gonna get hurt!”

Jonathan and I worked the park for about two weeks or so, with him teaching me numerous things. He and I came up with safety protocols and new observation methods, and made a list of stuff that should be dealt with ASAP. I was informing Lori of these changes as we went along, to which all she ever said was “if it makes it easier.” I just bumped that off because she was so busy with the media and Pete’s death. At the time, I didn’t realize she couldn’t be bothered or care less. I didn’t realize it, but I was pretty isolated from everyone but Jonathan. When Jonathan couldn’t help me, I had Kim Cooper, a volunteer for Safari’s, help me out. Then, one day, Kurt came back to work the park, and I was so happy to have the help, because it’s very hard for only two people to run that large of a park! I talked with Stacy (Lori’s husband) and told him I would prefer if Kurt stayed away from the big cats, and feed barnyard 1 and 2 instead. That worked great for a few days, until one day I noticed Kurt chopping up the meat for the big cats, and I thanked him for helping out. He informed me that he was going to feed the big cats. I asked him if Lori said it was okay for him to do that, and he looked at me and told me that it was okay with her, and he needs to do this to get past his issues. I informed him we don’t use the golf carts to feed the cats anymore, because the cats know that the carts are associated with food, and that we now use the cat walk, and we walk buckets down the hill to feed the others in cages in enclosures without cat walks. He informed me that the old way is how it has been done for years, and that is how it is going to stay, and no one has time to feed off the catwalk or walk up and down the hill a hundred times. We argued about it for a few minutes, until Jonathan stepped in and said to me “If he wants to kill himself, let him go ahead and do it. My advice to you, Ivy, is we see how this plays out just this once and make our decision afterwards.” Even though I had worked that park for 10 years, I knew when someone was more knowledgeable and more experienced then I was, so I took his advice. We helped Kurt feed the old way that day. After we were through feeding the big cats, Jonathan informed me that if Lori allows Kurt to continue to take care of the big cats, he does not want to come back ever. That night, I emailed Lori, and you can find a copy of my Nov. 15, 2008, email here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/safaris-truth-destination/this-is-an-email-that-ivy-cook-sent-to-lori-kurt-jan-and-paul-just-three-weeks-a/376945389049820

Let’s just say, Lori’s response wasn’t pretty:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/tombbringer-crazed-sinnerspirit/email-from-loriobviously-she-did-not-understand-what-i-wrote-hertook-it-as-an-at/10151185762280857

[You can read more emails sent from and to me related to Safari’s during that time period in the NOTES section of this Facebook page.]

I tried one last time to get her to change how things were done at the park. I even let her know the new things we were doing, that were safer and better. She wanted nothing to do with anything I said. I had no choice, with Kurt scaring the hell out of me during feeding that day, and Jonathan refusing to continue to volunteer there because of safety concerns, and Lori basically telling me that nothing is going to change, and that I was a problem: I quit. I could not jeopardize my life, or get hurt. I’m a mother and wife first before I am a zookeeper. I was never paid for the last few weeks I worked at Safari’s. That $200 back pay (or whatever it was meant to be for), slipped in my pocket at the hospital by Lori and her mother, was the last payment I received from them. I was still owed approximately $500 in salary by the time I quit.

A couple of weeks later, I got a phone call from my attorney asking me a bunch of questions about Lori and Safari’s, and the day Pete died. I answered them honestly. He asked me if there were witnesses who could verify my story, and I laughed and told him about 50 preschool children and 20 adults that were with the tour group! He informed me that Lori was trying to sue me for wrongful death of Pete and that with the information I just gave him, she doesn’t have grounds to stand on. I couldn’t believe it! Lori was attempting to put the blame on me for Pete’s death, when I had nothing to do with the cause of the attack—not being present when it actually occurred because I was busy leading the tour. Kurt was the one who was with Pete, feeding the big cats that day. Kurt was the one who opened the gate to the Rocky the liger’s enclosure. [Contrary to Lori’s assertions to the public, the media, and the USDA, it was common for Safari’s staff to open most of the big cats’ enclosures, even Rocky’s, to feed them (still done to this day, if you look at photos we’ve posted on this page recently). If lock-outs were available, sometimes they’d get used but when in a hurry, then not—even when feeding Rocky. Rocky’s neighbor next door was the tiger Twister, who had an aversion to men in ball caps because his owner who abused him often wore one. Pete always wore a ball cap, which pissed off Twister. This animosity toward Pete rubbed off on Rocky, who ‘hated’ Pete. Almost everyone, including Kurt, knew how Rocky felt about Pete. It was one more reason that Kurt should never have opened the gate for him and Pete to feed Rocky that day.]

I went about my life, taking care of my family, and enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. One day, I got a phone call from a friend, informing me that the USDA was looking for me. This was in 2011, almost two-and-a-half years after I quit. I asked her, “Why would they be looking for me?” My friend informed me that the USDA heard that I was out at the park the day Pete was attacked and wanted my statement. Apparently, Lori and Kurt never informed the USDA that I was on the scene immediately after the mauling attack and helped keep Pete alive until the ambulance service arrived. I simply emailed them the USDA to let them know who I was and that I heard they wanted to speak with me. The very next morning, on March 15, 2011, I had a USDA officer meet with me who took my statement. It took all day! I had no clue what was going on or the lies Lori and Kurt had told them. You can find my USDA affidavit on this page (in the photo album attached to this post) if you care to read it.

I did get back in touch with Kurt, because he was my best friend and even gave me away at my wedding. I loved that man so very much. I took my family out to see him at his house, and tried to reconnect the friendship that had been shattered. After a couple of months, I realized that he would never be the man I once loved, that he had become just like Lori and had decided lies and deceit were the better path to follow in life. I was (and still am) done with all of that, and I couldn’t have that in my life any more. It took me a long time to admit it, but the friend I had once loved so much is now gone and had died along with Pete that fateful day.

People ask me how it was possible that I didn’t know what was going on, that it was all over the news with Lori falsely stating that Pete broke protocol during feeding time. It is very simple. I’m not much for television, and my husband is a big video gamer, so if the TV is on, he is usually playing his video games, or we are watching the history channel or the DIY network. So, honestly, I did not see the news coverage, and if it was on the radio, I seriously would change the station.

I was advised that I was to testify in court on the USDA’s behalf, but when the date got closer, I found out Lori took a deal and would shut the park down instead of going to court and try and battle it out. Then I learned that she was trying to blame the USDA and everyone else for her misfortune, which angered me, because she knows that it was her fault, but refuses to take responsibility, and still does to this day.

For those of you who ask me, “How can you do this to the animals?” it’s really very simple. Those animals do have other sanctuaries to go to. I have personally called around and lots of sanctuaries have offered to take them in and give them loving and good homes. And some of those animals are in such poor health and conditions that the only humane thing to do is put them down, but as I have heard, a lot of them are slowly dying off out there. It’s very sad, but if I let my love for those animals blind me to Lori’s lies and her poor, pitiful-me act, then nothing will ever change, and someone else is going to get hurt. I don’t want anyone else to go through what Pete, Kurt , or I have had to deal with. It may have happened years ago, but it still affects my life to this day, and I still have nightmares. I could not live with myself if I stepped back and did nothing.

For those of you who want to know why I stayed around the park for so many years and turned a blind eye to Lori’s corrupt ways, I am not going to lie to you. Those exotic and majestic animals get to you. It’s like an addiction; they pull you in and it’s hard to break away. I’m sure many people who have worked at Safari’s or still do work there can relate to that and it could explain why they, too, stick around, regardless of Lori’s behavior. I’d have to say the main reason I stayed is because Kurt kept begging me back, and Lori promised me pay (it’s a very long drive from where I live to Broken Arrow).

If you have any questions, you may contact me through a private message through the Safari’s Truth Destination Facebook page. (You might have to ‘like’ the page first, in order to do so.)

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Ivy Campbell Cook