Row over zoo safety in wake of fatal incident

There is a large restaurant that overlooks Belgrade zoo in which anyone can climb over a 1.5 metre wall and fall 10 metres directly into the animal enclosures. My table overlooked the lions and tigers.

While I believe the West has become far too safety conscious, I have to say that Kalemegdan is far too dangerous for public use. The fortress was originally designed for military use and not for tourists to stroll in and for children to play. There are several places in Kalemegdan where it is very easy to fall 5-10 metres to ones death.

Access to the animal enclosures is only possible if one deliberately climbs a small wall, but there are lots of kids who will try this for fun. Perhaps this unfortunate gentleman was one of those.

All zoos are prone to people falling/ climbing into cages, whether deliberately or not. It's fair to assume that the aim is to keep animals in and not humans out!

Michael - Very fair point. I've been there as well and you are absolutely right.

I was thinking of the various people who, for whatever reason, climb into cages and enclosures or balance along walls etc. because it seems like a good idea at the time. But why tempt fate.

I have to say that there are various historical structures in the UK and Ireland (castles etc.) where despite attempts to make it totally safe there are always danger spots.

Just please don't euthanize the bears! All too often in the US, people do dumb things around larger animals that results in their death, which subsequently legitimizes the death of the animal. Oftentimes provoked bears will attack the perceived perpetrator out of defense of their cubs.

Be that as it may, I've been to Kalemagdan as well and noted that it's one of those historic sites with the message of "if you trip and fall 20 feet down, learn to be more carefulnext time, you idiot". Especially since the park is open at night, people mix the historical ruins that can be a veritable jungle gym with drinking, resulting in freak accidents like this.

An horrible accident, BUT climbing on the walls of the restaurant Kalemegdanska teraza is not recomended.. specially not if drunk.
I have dined there with my two small children and one have to constantly keep an eye out for them, no climbing allowed..

But as I recalled there were metal bars on the cages direcly under the restaurant?

I have been a couple of times in both the castle and the zoom along with my son and in many occasions I was worried a bit regarding safety precautions in this area.

One suggestion is to place nets below the walls and ovet the animal cages so as people they do not get accidentally killed, never mind if it is their fault or not.

I’m wondering has Kate ever been to Belgrade Zoo, or any other part of Belgrade for that matter. The place is an accident waiting to happen. I should know I’ve take more children there than Kate has had hot Sarma.

In my opinion the Zoo should be moved (outside the city) or closed all together.

For one they (animals) don't have the very best of living conditions I have to admit. Second the smell of animals in the city is not so pleasant.

Second its a historic fortress not a show for animals, make more parts accessible for people to see the historic nature of Kalemegdan itself.

A third as the article and all your comments state its pretty dangerous to strolling around a 500+ year old fortress with lions,tigers,bear and more right underneath you.

I read in another report of this that their were bricks and rocks and other debris found in the cage. Makes me think there were witnesses to what happened - that people were throwing stuff in the bear cage before and/or after the guy was in there.

One probability is his (drunk) friends so him in there unconscious and the bears coming toward him and tried to fend off them with the bricks, which likely instead made them angry.

Another possibility is the guy was pushed or murdered and dumped in the bear cage to help cover the murder.

Please Belgrade - do not kill the director of your extremely attractive ZOO because an accident occurs. Such an accident will happen whatever security measures are taken, if, a person do behave in a way that an accident may happen.

Please Belgrade - do not kill the director of your extremely attractive ZOO because an accident occurs. Such an accident will happen whatever security measures are taken, if, a person do behave in a way that an accident may happen.

All zoos are prone to people falling/ climbing into cages, whether deliberately or not. It's fair to assume that the aim is to keep animals in and not humans out!

There is a large restaurant that overlooks Belgrade zoo in which anyone can climb over a 1.5 metre wall and fall 10 metres directly into the animal enclosures. My table overlooked the lions and tigers.

While I believe the West has become far too safety conscious, I have to say that Kalemegdan is far too dangerous for public use. The fortress was originally designed for military use and not for tourists to stroll in and for children to play. There are several places in Kalemegdan where it is very easy to fall 5-10 metres to ones death.

Access to the animal enclosures is only possible if one deliberately climbs a small wall, but there are lots of kids who will try this for fun. Perhaps this unfortunate gentleman was one of those.

Michael - Very fair point. I've been there as well and you are absolutely right.

I was thinking of the various people who, for whatever reason, climb into cages and enclosures or balance along walls etc. because it seems like a good idea at the time. But why tempt fate.

I have to say that there are various historical structures in the UK and Ireland (castles etc.) where despite attempts to make it totally safe there are always danger spots.

Just please don't euthanize the bears! All too often in the US, people do dumb things around larger animals that results in their death, which subsequently legitimizes the death of the animal. Oftentimes provoked bears will attack the perceived perpetrator out of defense of their cubs.

Be that as it may, I've been to Kalemagdan as well and noted that it's one of those historic sites with the message of "if you trip and fall 20 feet down, learn to be more carefulnext time, you idiot". Especially since the park is open at night, people mix the historical ruins that can be a veritable jungle gym with drinking, resulting in freak accidents like this.

An horrible accident, BUT climbing on the walls of the restaurant Kalemegdanska teraza is not recomended.. specially not if drunk.
I have dined there with my two small children and one have to constantly keep an eye out for them, no climbing allowed..

But as I recalled there were metal bars on the cages direcly under the restaurant?

I’m wondering has Kate ever been to Belgrade Zoo, or any other part of Belgrade for that matter. The place is an accident waiting to happen. I should know I’ve take more children there than Kate has had hot Sarma.

In my opinion the Zoo should be moved (outside the city) or closed all together.

For one they (animals) don't have the very best of living conditions I have to admit. Second the smell of animals in the city is not so pleasant.

Second its a historic fortress not a show for animals, make more parts accessible for people to see the historic nature of Kalemegdan itself.

A third as the article and all your comments state its pretty dangerous to strolling around a 500+ year old fortress with lions,tigers,bear and more right underneath you.

I read in another report of this that their were bricks and rocks and other debris found in the cage. Makes me think there were witnesses to what happened - that people were throwing stuff in the bear cage before and/or after the guy was in there.

One probability is his (drunk) friends so him in there unconscious and the bears coming toward him and tried to fend off them with the bricks, which likely instead made them angry.

Another possibility is the guy was pushed or murdered and dumped in the bear cage to help cover the murder.

I have been a couple of times in both the castle and the zoom along with my son and in many occasions I was worried a bit regarding safety precautions in this area.

One suggestion is to place nets below the walls and ovet the animal cages so as people they do not get accidentally killed, never mind if it is their fault or not.