Exotic Animal Incident Report

Reported: Oct 16, 2006
Location: Fleetwood, North Carolina

Animal: Leopard
Animal Disposition: dead

Facility Type: Accredited AZA Zoo
Facility Name: New River Zoo

Category: Attack resulting in human injury, Animal Death by human
Species: Big Cat

Summary: A woman was bitten after crossing a barrier fence and putting her arm into a cage to pet a leopard at the New River Zoo; she suffered severe cuts requiring surgery. The leopard was euthanized to test for rabies. The zoo subsequently closed temporarily, pending results of an investigation into the incident.

Source: www.journalnow.com Winston-Salem Journal