Blood curdling two words as teenager mauled to death by tiger escaped from enclosureJane Lavender, Reanna Smith Tue, October 13, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC
One of the two Dahliwal brothers injured in the tiger attack views the body of Carlos Sousa, Jr. at the funeral service (Image: San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Carlos Sousa Jr was just 17 when he was killed by a Siberian tiger that escaped from its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo as his friends shouted for help
A teenager brutally mauled to death by a tiger in a tragic zoo attack spent his final moments desperately attempting to protect his friends and save their lives.
Carlos Sousa Jr was just 17 when Siberian tiger, Tatiana, broke free from her enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo and launched a ferocious assault on him and his two companions on Christmas Day in 2007. The 4-year-old Big Cat struck shortly after closing time.
She initially began attacking one of Carlos' friends, Kulbir Dhaliwal, while he and his friend's brother desperately tried to divert the 350lb predator by yelling and creating noise. Tatiana then turned her deadly attention to Carlos.
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The teenager's father, Carlos Sousa Sr, stated: "He didn't run. He tried to help his friend, and it was him who ended up getting it the worst."
Carlos Sousa Jr., who was killed by an escaped tiger (Image: AP)
The tiger slashed at his neck, fatally wounding him. Carlos' two friends managed to escape and ran to the zoo's cafe seeking help.
However, Tatiana's rampage continued as she followed the blood trail and began attacking 23-year-old Kulbir and his brother, Paul, 19.
Upon arrival, officers found the tiger positioned next to one of the brothers, who was covered in blood. Police Chief Heather Fong stated the victim cried out, "Help me! Help me!" as the tiger continued its assault.
Sunny Dahliwal (left) escorts one of his brothers that was injured (Image: San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Officers used patrol car lights to distract the tiger, but when it turned and began advancing toward them, all four officers opened fire, fatally shooting the animal. Both brothers required hospitalization for severe bite wounds and claw lacerations to their heads, necks, arms and hands, and were discharged on December 29, 2007.
Carlos was not as fortunate. His lifeless body was found near the tiger grotto.
He had suffered blunt-force trauma to his head and neck, multiple puncture wounds and scratches to his head, neck and chest, in addition to fractures to his skull and spine. A severed jugular vein was also identified, believed to have been the fatal injury.
An investigation was immediately launched to determine how the tiger had managed to escape from its enclosure.
At the time, San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo stated: "She had to have jumped. How she was able to jump that high is amazing to me."
The zoo maintained that the moat surrounding Tatiana's enclosure met national standards at 33 feet wide, though the walls of the tiger grotto stood at just 12.5 feet. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends these walls should be 16feet and 4inches high.
A Siberian tiger, similar to Tatiana (Image: undefined)
Upon examination of Tatiana's body, concrete fragments were found embedded in her paws, leading investigators to conclude she had pushed off against the moat wall during her escape. Mollinedo verified that safety inspectors had examined the wall, constructed in 1940, and had never raised any issues about its height.
Following the attack, Mollinedo also indicated the tiger must have been antagonized before launching her assault. The tiger enclosure stayed shut until early January 2008, over a year after the fatal attack, and received modifications to improve safety.
The wall height surrounding the tigers' habitat was increased to 16.4 feet, with glass fencing installed on top, elevating the total height to 19 feet. Electrified hotwire was also installed.
On the first anniversary of Tatiana's fatal attack, and the day she herself was shot dead, a life-sized concrete and tile sculpture of the tiger was revealed in San Francisco.
Wounds are clearly visible on Paul Dhaliwal (Image: San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Four police officers, Scott Biggs, Yukio Oshita, Kevin O'Leary and Daniel Kroos, who helped rescue the Dhaliwal brothers were also honored for their bravery during that traumatic day.
A legal claim brought by the Dhaliwal brothers against the zoo was settled for $900,000 in 2009, while a separate lawsuit, filed by Carlos' parents, was resolved for an undisclosed amount.
Source: Crime