Survivors of Badaling Tiger Attack Demand RMB 2 Million

Nearly three months after their 57-year-old relative was fatally mauled by a Badaling Wildlife Park tiger, the surviving relatives have gone public with their demands for RMB 2 million in compensation.

On Thursday, the SCMP reported that a family member surnamed Zhao, who was also attacked by the tiger and suffered major injuries after stepping out of the car that they were all riding in at the park, told a reporter from the Beijing Times that the July 23 incident caused “irreversible” damage to all involved. She also denied earlier reports that said she recklessly left the vehicle because she was arguing with her husband, insisting instead that she merely stepped out to assist to replace her husband behind the wheel, because he was an inexperienced driver.

Numerous netizens who watched the gruesome security footage from that day will easily recall what happened next – while standing outside of the vehicle, Zhao was viciously attacked by one of the safari park's tigers who had quickly come out of hiding and pounced on the unsuspecting prey. Zhao's mother quickly jumped to her daughter's defense, only to be killed by the creature moments later. Newly released reports say that she suffered multiple injuries that were inflected on her torso along with a 20-centimeter scar on her face, resulting in severe nerve damage.

At the time of the attack, the Beijinger and several other media outlets noted that park rules strictly prohibit visitors from departing their vehicles because of the high risk of attacks. The incident also prompted many to recall similarly violent occasions like the March 2016 trampling of a Badaling park employee by an elephant, and other wildlife tiger attacks in 2009 (when a visitor mistakenly walked to a prohibited area), and 2014 (when a patrolman was fatally mauled). Animal rights activists also weighed in to argue that such incidents are prompted by the cruel treatment of enclosed animals.

The SCMP article went on to say that Zhao and her family's claim for RMB 2 million was rejected by the park, which reiterated its safety rules and regulations written to prevent such incidents. However, the family says the park's stance is unacceptable.

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