Bengal tiger bites young worker at Virginia zoo

[neoprodigy]

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1521711





Bengal tiger bites young worker at Virginia zoo

November 19, 2008 - 3:09pm


LURAY, Va. (AP) - A 16-year-old employee of a small Virginia zoo is recovering after a tiger bit her when she tried to pet it.
Zoo owner Jennifer Westhoff says the girl lost her pinky and had cuts on her hand. She was showing a 5-year-old Bengal tiger named Star to visitors when it bit her through its cage.
Westhoff says the tiger grabbed the girl's hand, then got spooked and bit her when a visitor jumped over a fence to help.
The girl was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center and was expected to be released Wednesday.
The Luray Zoo is the only rescue zoo in Virginia and houses 260 animals, mostly reptiles, over four acres.
Star is the zoo's only tiger, and Westhoff says she will remain there.

 

[msjinkzd]

ouch

 

[chloe]

well i shall be first to say...idiot!

i would love a tiger personally but a creature like that can revert to its natural state at any moment, and the tiger will put down for other peoples idiotness!!!
completly unfair!

 

[Delhezi222]

My question is why a sixteen year old was working at a zoo. Shouldn't a zoo at least require a high school degree?

 

[chloe]

maybe just maintenence would b ok, but proper working with them should have something like that yea...would be common sense...lol

 

[freshwaterz]

Doh!!!!!!!

 

[MN_Rebel]

Im not surprised about zookeepers being bitten by any big cats, its old news. However I find it odd when they let 16 years old work in the zoo?

 

[andyjs]

My question is why a sixteen year old was working at a zoo. Shouldn't a zoo at least require a high school degree?

Might have been a volunteer position. I worked at the Columbus Zoo for like 3 and a half years and turned 16 my last year there. I started out just talking to guests about the animals, showing them around, answering questions. My second year, I started working directly with animals, but the most dangerous ones I worked with directly were 24-40" gators and large boids. My third year, I helped out in the North American area and at one point worked a little with grizzlies and black bears, but even the full-time professional keepers aren't allowed within like 18" on the fencing the bears can directly touch.

Actual paid jobs there for 16 year olds include concessions and ticket stands...

That was a REALLY stupid thing for her to do. They better not put that tiger down for that...

 

[MN_Rebel]

Thank god, the zoo decided to not put down the tiger as its not really her/his fault.

 

[Nic]

hmm doesnt sound like a pleasant experience