This month's (June 2005) Reader's Digest had a rather horrifying example of when the limits on interaction with wildlife are pushed. The basic story began with the development of a Jane Goodall-type infatuation with Alaskan bears by a self-taught naturalist from California. He got to the point of naming individual bears and feeling that he had an "understanding" with them. Then came the fateful season of poor berry supplies and overcrowded salmon runs, the signs of which which he ignored because he "understood" them. The end result was he and his girlfriend being lunched, the sounds of which were recorded by the video camera that the girlfriend had turned on during the inital attack.
As I've mentioned in other threads, after having handled the shredded equipment from a notorious fatal attack on a diver at Kahe in the late 80's, I'll never mess with any tiger. (The incident is mentioned in the book "Rescue in Paradise; Oahu's Beaches and Their Guardians" by David Doyle.) For Hawaiians, some sharks including tigers are 'aumakua (family guardians) and are revered. But even Hawaiians recognize that sometimes 'aumakua go bad and must be dealt with.
Enjoy the scenery but respect the turf.
