Memphis Zoo Keeper Bitten by Tiger

Memphis Zoo representatives are not saying what provoked the tiger to attack, but they do say the zookeeper was alone with the tiger and that precautionary measures were already in place so that this type of attack would not happen.

The attack against a Memphis zoo keeper happened Sunday morning before the zoo opened for normal business at 9:00am.

According to zoo representatives the attack happened in an enclosed off exhibit night house when the zoo keeper was tending to Kumari a 3 1/2 year old Bengal Tiger.
Drew Smith with The Memphis Zoo says, "The tiger was able to bite into the zoo keeper's leg."

Zoo officials say the unidentified zoo keeper was behind the tiger exhibit where all 5 of the zoo's tigers are held during off business hours.

While zoo officials are not releasing how extensive the injury is, the female tiger bit the keeper on the upper right calf.

Smith says, "At all times it was secure it's just that our zoo keepers have to go into those areas to take care of these animals."

Smith adds that the keeper was transported to the hospital in non-critical condition where he was treated and is recovering.

But Smith says immediately after the attack the zoo's Crisis Team responded.

Smith says, "It's made up of zoo keepers that know these animals best and how to handle them the animal…we got it back into a caged area…we put it back under containment."

Smith says while the tiger was not harmed during the incident a full investigation has begun.

Smith says, "He would normally be back there with the tiger we go thru protocols to make sure that there is protected contact and so there are not instances where a zoo keeper can normally come into contact with the animals that could do this."

While the investigation continues right now there's no word on what will happen to the tiger - if anything. And according to Memphis Zoo regulations administrators must now contact the Association of Zoo's and Aquariums to report the incident.