Tiger Truck Stop - Don't do this

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
The Tiger Truck Stop on I-10 in Grosse Tete, Louisiana used to have a tiger there, in the petting zoo. Couldn't pet the tiger, but pretty much everything else was fine. A woman from Florida was visiting and did not have her deaf dog on a leash. The dog went into the camel enclosure and was playing with and getting along with the camel. The women broke into the enclosure to get the dog, and the camel, Casper, became startled and ended up sitting on the woman. The woman, naturally, went right after the kiddies. Don't do that. The camel is mad and the woman ended up going to the hospital.

Camel's testicles bitten by woman at Louisiana truck stop petting zoo
 
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Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
The Tiger Truck Stop in I-10 in Grosse Tete, Louisiana used to have a tiger there, in the petting zoo. Couldn't pet the tiger, but pretty much everything else was fine. A woman from Florida was visiting and did not have her deaf dog on a leash. The dog went into the camel enclosure and was playing with an getting along with the camel. The women broke into the enclosure to get the dog, and the camel, Casper, became startled and ended up sitting on the woman. The woman, naturally, went right after the kiddies. Don't do that. The camel is mad and the woman ended up going to the hospital.

Camel's testicles bitten by woman at Louisiana truck stop petting zoo
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Turtle

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Retired Expediter
They had at least one big cat there for over 30 years. Over the years several cats were born there. At least 3 they gave to a sanctuary in TN, as well as the one Siberian tiger they had. But Tony was the last one, who was, as FlyingVan noted, was old for a tiger in captivity. Most live 14-18 years in captivity, a few will go to 20 years in captivity, although one lived to be 25 years old. In the wild, the average lifespan of a Bengal tiger is 8-10 years. Bengal tigers are one of the few wild species that flourish in captivity.

But they won't replace the tiger with another one, because of a law enacted that prevents them from doing so. They're working on that, though, so they might get another one one day. They do have a USDA license which permits them to have exotics. They also get unannounced inspections. The only citation they've ever received was a few years ago when they were tagged for a small spot of rust on one section of the fence enclosure.
 

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
A wide place in the road...................... Grosse Tete , Lousiana...

Demographics[edit]
CensusPop.
Historical population
1930303
194038226.1%
195054843.5%
196076840.1%
1970710−7.6%
19807495.5%
1990541−27.8%
200067023.8%
2010647−3.4%
Est. 2016625[2]−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 670 people, 261 households, and 182 families residing in the village. Thepopulation density was 554.4 inhabitants per square mile (213.8/km²). There were 294 housing units at an average density of 243.3 per square mile (93.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 55.52% White, 42.84% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.[citation needed]
There were 261 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% weremarried couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.[citation needed]
In the village, the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,734, and the median income for a family was $32,188. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,840. About 16.7% of families and 23.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 27.6% of those age 65 or over.
Grosse Tete has become known for the Tiger Truck Stop where a live tiger was displayed for many years in an enclosure a near the parking lot, a display which brought notoriety to the business. The tiger, named Tony, passed away in 2017.
 
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