KALININGRAD, Russia (Reuters) — A Siberian tiger called Typhoon attacked a female zoo keeper in Kaliningrad on Sunday (November 5) when she came into the enclosure to feed the animal.
The incident happened at noon when the zoo was full of visitors.
Why the tiger and the woman were both in the enclosure at the same time, was unclear.
The animal attacked her and pushed her on the ground.
Terrified eyewitnesses tried to distract the tiger shouting and throwing stones, trash bins and other things until the tiger backed away.
The woman managed to escape and find shelter in a back room.
The bureau of Russian newspaper ‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’ (KP) in Kaliningrad obtained photographs of the attack.
According to the newspaper, the woman has been working in the zoo for 20 years and was an experienced staff member.
The zoo on its official webpage said that she was hospitalized for shock and multiple wounds. Doctors said her condition is stable and there is no threat to her life.
The zoo also said that the 16-year-old tiger has never been aggressive before and that was his first ever attack on human. The animal is in its enclosure now and is believed to be stressed. No measures will be taken against the tiger.
Police and local prosecutor’s office conducting an investigation.
