The 79-year-old British-Israeli says that animals possess ‘telepathic powers’, and also hit out at cruel online trolls mocking both the victim and the killer tiger
Legendary spoon-bender Uri Geller has claimed animals possess telepathic powers as he defended a tiger that mauled a man to death at a British wildlife park.
The world-famous psychic, 79, insisted the big cat should not be punished for acting on its natural instincts, while branding zoos “torture chambers” for animals. William Chapman sadly died on Saturday (October 10) after reportedly climbing into an enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, where he was attacked by an Amur tiger named Altai.
Horrified witnesses described seeing the man bowing and praying towards the animal before the fatal attack. Despite desperate efforts by emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wildlife park has since confirmed that Altai is safe and will not be put down.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, Geller claimed that his powers give him a unique insight into animals, including the tiger in question. He explained: “Animals, in my opinion, are telepathic. All animals have mind, body and soul. I do believe that God created all animals. Animals feel pain.”
The Israeli-British entertainer, who has spent decades claiming to possess extraordinary psychic abilities, believes animals have a spiritual existence remarkably similar to humans.
He stated: “In my opinion, the soul of an animal is almost identical to the soul of a human being.
“We are all created by the Creator. I do believe in God and I think God created everything. Us, animals, the universe, the cosmos, everything.”
Turning to the fatal tiger attack, Geller insisted the animal was simply behaving as nature intended.
He said: “The tiger basically responded with a typical defensive behaviour inside its own territory. Punishing the animal for an action triggered by human trespass treats the tiger as a moral agent rather than a non-human predator. He was protecting his territory.”
Geller also revealed he had been left disgusted by people making jokes about the victim. He said: “What has really angered me is the memes and jokes which have been making fun of him. It’s purely disgusting.”
The animal lover, who follows a vegan diet, launched a blistering attack on zoos, insisting wild creatures should never be confined for human entertainment.
“Look, I used to love zoos when I was a child. But I now know that they are basically a torture chamber. They are torture chambers. Zoos, in my opinion, are the Alcatraz for animals. They should be totally free in nature, in their own habitat. Animals feel pain. And we should treat animals as we are, like humans.”