Roy Horn knew everything there was to know about tigers, but that didn't stop the unfortunate mauling.

Steve wasn't in a pit with a border collie or a lab. He was in a pit with an unpredictable wild animal. While I don't doubt that he would have thrown himself in front of the animal to save his son, it was still a stupid stunt (even though yes, the media is having a field day - probably because he's so unaplologetic about the whole thing and its a slow news day).