Expert: Malcolm B. Sullivan - 11/27/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I read in one of your past answers that you think its dangerous for people to own Tigers. Well Mike Tyson who owned a pet Lion and a few Tigers said he used to spar with his Tigers all the time ? The only reason he gave them up was because they grew strong enough to bite off more than "ears" how could a meat head like Mike Tyson own a Tiger and not have his head bitten off if they are as dangerous as you claim they are. He also had a Lion but it was too aggressive to be out of a cage unlike this Tigers...
Thanks

ANSWER: Hi, Carl

Because of one curious little thing that some people seem to have in greater amounts than others; luck.
But I assure you, if you spend ALL your time with tigers or lions, or any wild predator, it is likely that, at the end, you will be killed or seriously injured by them. It's just like riding a motorcycle ALL the time; the longer you use it, the greater the chances of suffering an accident. Just because it has not happened, it doesn´t mean that riding the motorcycle isn´t dangerous.
Now, I'm no one to judge that Mike guy, but it is my opinion as a wildlife expert that no one in his right mind should own anything more dangerous than a German shepherd. I know many people who claimed to perfectly control their wild animals, and certainly, they did for many years... until their luck ran out.

Best regards
        Malcolm

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, again I find it rather weird you don't know who Mike Tyson is he used to be one of the hardest hitters in Boxing and was considered unstoppable in his prime now I don't doubt that a Tiger could kill a normal human but a professional boxer of his calliber will turn a Siberian or Southern whatever Tiger into a pussy cat.
Thanks

Answer
Hi, Carl

I knew I had heard that name somewhere, pardon my awful ignorance.
Anyway, you can´t compare any human, even a very strong one, with a great cat such as a tiger or a lion. These have so much strenght that, if enraged or hungry, would shred to pieces the strongest man that ever lived. That I can guarantee.
(As a matter of fact, the man who is reported to have been the strongest in recorded history was killed by wolves...)

Best regards
        Malcolm