A caretaker at the Hand Beach Zoo died Friday mid-day after being assaulted by an unusual species of tiger attacks, zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter stated.
Tiger attacks
Stacey Konwiser, 38, lead tiger caretaker at the zoo, was killed by a 13-year-old male Malayan tiger, one of four at the facility, in the included suburb where the animals are fed and also sleep, Carter stated. Get More Information.
Zoo authorities stated it really did not appear Konwiser did anything out of the norm as she worked in the room, referred to as the tiger evening house, and prepared to talk with zoo site visitors concerning the pets in a “Tiger Talk.”.
The tiger was off-exhibit at the time and no visitors can see just what took place, Carter claimed. The tiger was never ever on the loose, contrary to early credit reports on social networks, she said.
West Palm Beach police said the tiger was tranquilized and policemans waited till the medications worked before they could possibly reach the sufferer, CNN associate WPEC reported. Konwiser was taken by helicopter to St. Mary’s Medical Center.
‘A tiger whisperer‘.
Konwiser had functioned 3 years at the zoo and also was extremely experienced with tigers, Carter stated. Her partner, Jeremy Konwiser, is also a trainer at the zoo.
“This was her specialized,” she claimed. “She enjoyed tigers. You don’t get into this business without the passion for the pets and also recognizing the threat that’s entailed even more.”.
Konwiser had an unique bond with the big cats, Carter informed the Hand Beach Blog post.
“I kind of referred to her as a tiger whisperer,” she claimed. And I can not put into words or make you recognize for any person that didn’t know Stacey how much she loved these tigers and how a lot this zoo family members loved her.
Konwiser graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor’s level in biology and received her master’s level in conservation biology from the University of Queensland in Australia, the Palm Beach Zoo’s main Facebook web page stated.
Malayan tigers are a seriously endangered species. The Palm Beach Zoo provides an unique program in which visitors can pay additional to see the tigers.
The zoo is component of a breeding program that intends to ensure the animals from ending up being vanished. Carter would not comment regarding the condition of the tiger other than to claim it has been had.
When the assault happened regarding 2 p.m., visitors at the zoo were ushered right into the gift store before being told the zoo was shut for the day.
“This is my very first time at the zoo,” one zoo site visitor, Beverly Johnson of Fort Pierce, informed the Palm Beach Post. “I wasn’t expecting this.”.
The zoo was evacuated as well as will certainly be shut via Saturday, Carter stated.
‘They are educated to feel like that’s their territory’.
Dave Salmoni, the huge predator specialist for Animal Planet, claimed he was not surprised such a strike occurred in the tiger night house.
“Typically zoo cats, that’s where they feel most comfy,” Salmoni said on “Anderson Cooper 360.” “They are trained to seem like that’s their territory. When you speak regarding acts of hostility or acts of prominence, which this might have been either, that would certainly be the most likely area for something like this.”.
Salmoni claimed individuals that work with big cats understand and accept the risk.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear about a story of someone that likes a pet a lot,” he said. “I can relate. The exact same thing can possibly happen to me tomorrow.”.
PETA criticizes zoo.
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a declaration slamming the zoo.
“Today’s case is only the most up to date in a long checklist of fatal maulings worldwide, which listing will certainly continuously grow as long as tigers and various other exotic pets are locked in cages and substances for human entertainment,” stated PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet.
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“In nature, tigers have home arrays of hundreds of miles, so it’s not surprising that constraining them to tiny areas creates them to lash out in the aggravation, anxiety, stress and anxiety and frustration that they suffer when they’re rejected their flexibility and also the ability to behave usually in every method– including choosing their friends, raising their young as well as looking for personal privacy from prying eyes.
“PETA sends our condolences to the zookeeper’s family and also really hopes that this occurrence will certainly save human lives in the future by making zoos everywhere reassess the confinement of big cats as well as various other wild animals.”.
Zoo concerns declaration.
The zoo released a statement Friday evening and also posted it on the zoo website.
“This notes the initial death of a human associated with a pet event in the history of Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Grief counselors continue to be offered to zoo personnel influenced by this heartbreaking incident. Our emphasis continues to be on offering the sufficient support for our team and member of the family that have actually been influenced by this tragic occurrence.
“This is a really difficult situation for all zoo staff, relative of Konwiser, her family and the extended zoo family. We ask the media as well as public to appreciate the personal privacy of those entailed throughout this challenging time.”.
West Palm Beach authorities stated the tiger was tranquilized and also officers waited till the medications took effect before they could possibly reach the victim, CNN affiliate WPEC reported. And also I can not place right into words or make you recognize for anyone who didn’t recognize Stacey exactly how much she loved these tigers and also exactly how a lot this zoo family loved her. The zoo is component of a breeding program that aims to keep the pets from becoming extinct.”This marks the initial fatality of a human included in a pet occurrence in the history of Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Despair therapists remain offered to zoo staff affected by this awful event.
Tiger attacks, kills keeper at Florida zoo
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