Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/u...ed-tiger-bites-woman-who-tried-to-pet-it.html
“Just in case you had any doubt, if you pet a tiger you will most likely get bitten.”
With those words, the Omaha Police Department announced an episode that took place over the weekend with what seems like the obvious consequence of trying to touch a wild animal.
That is what a Nebraska woman did on Halloween night at the city’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, according to the police and the zoo. The woman, identified as Jacqueline Eide, 33, sneaked into the zoo and reached into a cage, trying to pet the tiger inside. The animal bit her, causing “severe trauma” to her hand, the police said.
The police said Ms. Eide appeared to be drunk or under the influence of drugs. They said she was taken to the Creighton University Medical Center, where she was aggressive toward the staff who later called the police. Ms. Eide was cited for criminal trespassing.
In a statement, the zoo did not name Ms. Eide but said two people entered the zoo after it closed on Saturday. The animal that zoo officials believe bit Ms. Eide was named Mai, an 18-year-old, three-legged Malayan tiger.
Photo
Credit Jacqueline Sanchez, via You Tube
Mai is somewhat of a star at the zoo, known for her “personable demeanor” and ability to navigate around her habitat despite her missing leg, according to a profile about her on the website of the Omaha Zoo Foundation, the nonprofit organization that supports the zoo.
The tiger had her front left leg amputated after she was rescued from a poachers’ snare as a cub, and was rehabilitated at a zoo in Southern Malaysia before she was transferred to Omaha in 2003.
The usual life span for a tiger in captivity is 18 to 20 years.
“She’s very friendly, which is odd because she came from the wild,” Mike Verbrigghe, the lead keeper of cats at the zoo, said in the profile. “She was forced to rely on humans from a young age, so she’s pretty trusting. In fact, she’ll look for attention from just about anyone.”
It was not immediately clear how Ms. Eide got into the zoo after hours. Dennis Pate, the zoo’s executive director, said in the zoo’s statement that security guards keep watch around the clock. “We have added security cameras, new path lighting and computer-controlled locks to track exit and entry,” he said.
“Additional path lighting is planned for the new African Grasslands exhibit and more cameras will be installed to monitor the grounds and gates.”
On Facebook, fans of the zoo wrote to express concern that Mai would be punished. Zoo officials assured them that she would not.
“Thank you everyone for your concerns about Mai, our Malayan tiger. Mai will remain on display as normal and go about life as usual. No action will be taken against her,” officials said, in a post that was shared several thousand times.
“Just in case you had any doubt, if you pet a tiger you will most likely get bitten.”
With those words, the Omaha Police Department announced an episode that took place over the weekend with what seems like the obvious consequence of trying to touch a wild animal.
That is what a Nebraska woman did on Halloween night at the city’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, according to the police and the zoo. The woman, identified as Jacqueline Eide, 33, sneaked into the zoo and reached into a cage, trying to pet the tiger inside. The animal bit her, causing “severe trauma” to her hand, the police said.
The police said Ms. Eide appeared to be drunk or under the influence of drugs. They said she was taken to the Creighton University Medical Center, where she was aggressive toward the staff who later called the police. Ms. Eide was cited for criminal trespassing.
In a statement, the zoo did not name Ms. Eide but said two people entered the zoo after it closed on Saturday. The animal that zoo officials believe bit Ms. Eide was named Mai, an 18-year-old, three-legged Malayan tiger.
Photo
Credit Jacqueline Sanchez, via You Tube
Mai is somewhat of a star at the zoo, known for her “personable demeanor” and ability to navigate around her habitat despite her missing leg, according to a profile about her on the website of the Omaha Zoo Foundation, the nonprofit organization that supports the zoo.
The tiger had her front left leg amputated after she was rescued from a poachers’ snare as a cub, and was rehabilitated at a zoo in Southern Malaysia before she was transferred to Omaha in 2003.
The usual life span for a tiger in captivity is 18 to 20 years.
“She’s very friendly, which is odd because she came from the wild,” Mike Verbrigghe, the lead keeper of cats at the zoo, said in the profile. “She was forced to rely on humans from a young age, so she’s pretty trusting. In fact, she’ll look for attention from just about anyone.”
It was not immediately clear how Ms. Eide got into the zoo after hours. Dennis Pate, the zoo’s executive director, said in the zoo’s statement that security guards keep watch around the clock. “We have added security cameras, new path lighting and computer-controlled locks to track exit and entry,” he said.
“Additional path lighting is planned for the new African Grasslands exhibit and more cameras will be installed to monitor the grounds and gates.”
On Facebook, fans of the zoo wrote to express concern that Mai would be punished. Zoo officials assured them that she would not.
“Thank you everyone for your concerns about Mai, our Malayan tiger. Mai will remain on display as normal and go about life as usual. No action will be taken against her,” officials said, in a post that was shared several thousand times.
