In Reply to: if people continue to have photos posted by mollyroxyhanna on Friday, 5. December 2008 at 04:52 Bali Time:
For zoos to want to protect tourists from getting clawed by a tiger or lion.
Cats may reach a peak of activity at night but they can be pretty dangerous during the day. Cubs too have been known to do a fair bit of harm to a human.
The way many zoos choose to protect a very lucrative tourist market (photo and petting sessions) is to give tigers and lions daily injections of Xylazine hydrochloride (Rompun) and Ketamine.
If a tourist is around a cat, eg a cub, shortly after the cub has its injection the tourist might see the cub experiencing distressing and excessive vomiting for a while. I'm sure the zoos wouldn't wish to distress the tourist and injections will be given well before opening hours.
I don't know what the long-term effects are of tigers and lions being given these drugs. I think there is probably a risk to the central nervous system.
Perhaps a veterinarian will know.