Tiger Mauls Woman at Memphis Zoo
The Memphis Zoo announced a statement today after a tiger mauled a female employee. Injuries from the attack include puncture wounds to the neck and face. However, the zookeeper remains on staff. She will be released from the hospital by the end of the week, according to the zoo.
The tiger attacked the employee while she was working in the animal compound. Her fingerprints had been removed, and her face was unrecognizable. As she tried to pet the tiger, she was bitten in the arm, resulting in severe puncture wounds to the neck and face. Several medical professionals were called to her hospital room to treat her injuries, and the doctors were uncertain whether they could save her arm.
The attack came after the tiger had been released from the exhibit in the zoo’s animal compound. It had previously escaped from the cage of the tiger’s trainer. This time, the tiger had a chance to interact with the human keeper, who had gone to retrieve a ball.
After the attack, the zookeeper was airlifted to the trauma center. A stray dog, which was part of the safari park’s animal enclosure, also led workers on a short chase. Although police haven’t yet identified the tiger, they have stated that the tiger appeared to be a black leopard.
The tiger was a lion cross, which is considered a hybrid of a tiger and a lion. According to Bandu Dhotre, one of the leading wildlife experts in the world, tigers are rarely seen in tourist areas.
The tiger’s attack was the second in a year at the Ringling Bros. Circus. The first was in March, when the tiger attacked a 17-year-old worker. Now, the zoo is releasing the female tiger involved in the incident back into public view.
Before this attack, a tiger had mauled two women at Badaling Wildlife World. Two more people have been killed by tigers in China, but no details are available at this point. Other victims have been a zookeeper at the Riverside Zoo, a zookeeper at the Palm Beach, FL, zoo and a zookeeper at the Buffalo, NY, zoo.
While the tiger’s attack at the Bridgeport Nature Park photo booth was an isolated incident, other tiger attacks have occurred at other zoos and other public locations. Some of these incidents involve young children and animals. Another tiger attacked an adult at a promotional event, causing facial cuts. One tiger was even involved in an attack at a private zoo in Beijing.
These are just a few of the tiger attacks in recent years. Many more have been reported around the globe. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact us at our website. Materials may not be broadcast or redistributed.
Hopefully, this information can be helpful to anyone who has had a close encounter with a tiger. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from a tiger’s teeth, and you should always keep your doors and windows closed and locked when visiting a zoo.