Former employee says Six Flags DK unprepared

An expert marksman and former employee with Six Flags Discovery Kingdom says the park is under-prepared for dangerous animal escapes. The ex-employee, Dale Udell, was part of the park's rifle team tasked with last-resort shootings in the event of an escaped animal that could potentially injure park guests. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom found a use for this team when an escaped tiger mauled and killed a man in 2007. Udell says the park had 14 members on the team in 2008, but the park has since allowed that number to shrink to a 2-man crew and have discontinued training drills that would otherwise keep skills sharpened.

Park executives disagree. Six Flags Discover Kingdom spokesperson Nancy Chan says the park employs a 10-person escape team. "The safety of our guests, staff and animals is our top priority," said Chan. "As part of our standard operating procedures, we employ a 10-member animal escape team. Drills and reviews of those procedures are conducted on a regular basis to ensure maximum efficiency."

Read more about Udell's concerns and park rebuttals at Mercury News.