Exotic Incident #447
Incident Date:
05/12/2002
Location:
Tampa, FL - USA
Facility Name:
Busch Gardens
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Escape/Attack resulting in human injury (HI)
Species:
Big Cats
Animal:
African Lion
Animal disposition:
Summary:
A 350-pound African lion ripped the arm off a 21-year-old Busch Gardens zookeeper while she was giving her family a private tour. The injury was not the first for Busch, which housed hippos, hyenas, baboons, and crocodiles. In 1989, an animal keeper was crushed to death by a 2-ton elephant. In 1993, a rattlesnake bit a zookeeper, who survived. And in 1999, a woman claimed that a Clydesdale horse bit off the tip of her finger.
Action take by Born Free USA:
Notes: