The internet went wild when a video surfaced of two men attempting to corral a live tiger at Detroit’s abandoned Packard Plant using a Weedwacker. This bizarre encounter left many wondering, what were they thinking? This article delves into the story, featuring an exclusive interview with Andy Didorosi, one of the men involved in this unbelievable incident.
“There Wasn’t a Whole Lot of Thought Going Into This” – An Interview with Andy Didorosi
The tiger was present for a professional photoshoot but decided to take a break from posing, venturing down a stairwell in the dilapidated Packard Plant. Local resident Andy Didorosi and his friend Tony found themselves unexpectedly assisting the tiger’s handler in guiding the animal back to safety. Their attempts, which included a blue tarp and the infamous Weedwacker, were captured on video and quickly became an internet sensation.
Q: The question on everyone’s mind: Are you completely nuts?
A: Yes. Absolutely. (Laughs.) Judging by the Facebook comments, I’m insane and a jerk.
Q: You realize this bordered on insanity?
A: Yeah. It all happened so fast, maybe 20 minutes total. There wasn’t much time to think.
Q: Most people would run the other way from a tiger. What possessed you?
A: Why run? How often do you get that close to a tiger? (Laughs.) It’s exciting.
Q: But zoos have bars for a reason.
A: Those tigers are docile. This one was…different.
Q: So, you found the aggression…fun?
A: Well, Tony was much closer than me. I just had to outrun him. (Laughs.)
Q: What did your mother think?
A: I called her immediately after, before she saw it on Facebook. She’s used to my antics. This wasn’t even the craziest thing I’ve done.
The Plan (or Lack Thereof) to Corral a Tiger
Didorosi recounted the events, starting with receiving instructions from the tiger’s handler via walkie-talkie. Their initial strategy involved using a blue tarp and mimicking animal sounds to scare the tiger down the stairs.
Q: Can you describe the “scary tarp monster” tactic?
A: The handler told us to make squeaking sounds, not human sounds, because the tiger wasn’t afraid of those. We were walking toward him under the tarp, not supposed to look. But I peeked, and he was looking right at me. I froze. Tony kept going. The whole thing felt surreal.
Q: Then came the Weedwacker?
A: First, it was a hedge trimmer attachment, then the Weedwacker. By then, the tiger was frustrated with us. He took a lazy swipe at Tony, more like a “Get out of here” than an attack.
Q: What was the plan if the tiger had attacked?
A: There was no plan. I hoped they had insurance.
Reflecting on the Tiger Encounter
Despite the near-death experience, Didorosi, a self-proclaimed animal lover who rescues dogs and fosters a pit bull, maintains that their intentions were purely to de-escalate the situation, not to harm the tiger.
Q: Imagine the headline: “Two geniuses with Weedwacker mauled to death by tiger.”
A: Yep. That sounds about right. (Laughs.)
Didorosi and Tony are selling T-shirts commemorating the event to raise money for a dog rescue and the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary. More information can be found at Tigerwatch15.com. This encounter serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that wild animals, even those involved in professional settings, are unpredictable and should be treated with extreme caution. A man comparing himself to a tiger in terms of bravery might reconsider after this incident.
