The move was welcomed by animal welfare groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which opposes keeping wild animals in captivity. In light of the attacks, the group is urging the zoo to phase out its big-cat exhibits.
On the other hand, keeping tigers in zoos promotes conservation and education, said Feldman, the zoo association's spokesman. If visitors never got to see an elephant or a tiger, "chances are they would not have that sense of awe and wonder," he said, "and not be inspired to take action."
Of the 258 tigers in zoos accredited by the association, only five were born in the wild, he said. Four were captured after killing livestock and were going to be destroyed. The fifth was the cub of a tiger killed by poachers.
Mollinedo, the San Francisco Zoo director, has been tight-lipped about details of the attacks, pointing out that a police investigation and an internal review are ongoing. However, he and police officials have said there was no evidence anyone aided the escape, either deliberately or inadvertently.
"We have not been able to find any witnesses that actually saw what occurred out there," Mollinedo said. But, he added, "Something provoked that tiger to leap out. I don't think that tiger would have come out of there if something had not agitated it."
Mollinedo, 61, has been on the defensive, at one point having to correct information he gave that overstated the height of the grotto walls. Questions also were raised about a police dispatch log, which showed that showed zoo employees temporarily barred police from entering one of the zoo gates.
The official said the tiger had been sighted in the area and his employees were following protocol by keeping the gate closed.
Mollinedo said his staff conducts regular drills for responding to escapes, and the shooting unit practices monthly at a firing range.
He said his staff "performed heroically." One employee rushed to the tiger grotto and guarded Sousa's body with a shotgun to protect it from further attack, Mollinedo said.
Mollinedo has weathered his share of zoo challenges.
A Los Angeles native who grew up in Boyle Heights, Mollinedo was a city parks official when he was selected to lead the Los Angeles Zoo in 1995.
When he took the reins, the zoo was beset with aging exhibits and maintenance problems. The animals' safety was also an issue, with coyotes stealing in and killing several flamingos.
