Exotic Incident #1103

Incident Date:
02/10/2008
Location:
Palm Beach, FL - USA
Facility Name:
Palm Beach Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Escape/Attack resulting in human injury (HI)
Species:
Big Cats
Animal:
Malayan Tiger
Animal disposition:

Summary:

A 300-pound, 3-year-old Malayan tiger named Mata bit the finger of a zookeeper at the Palm Beach Zoo. The zookeeper was rewarding Mata with a treat at the time. Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators believed the keeper deviated from protocol by using her fingers to extend the treat instead of holding her palm flat with the treat on it. Though the keeper did not lose part of her finger, a surgeon was called to repair the damage.

Action take by Born Free USA:

Notes: