A former employee at The Living Desert was killed Friday afternoon in Florida after an incident with a Malayan tiger, according to a news release from the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society’s website.
Advertisement
A tiger attacked and killed a zookeeper at the Palm Beach Zoo Friday, park officials said. Later Stacey was taken by helicopter to St Mary’s Medical Center where she died after suffering a “severe bite” wound at about 3 p.m. Now the male tiger is tranquilized on recovering at the zoo.
A Florida zookeeper died on Friday after being attacked by a Malayan tiger during a routine procedure at Palm Beach Zoo, the Sun Sentinel newspaper reported, citing a zoo spokeswoman. The Palm Beach Zoo provides a special program in which guests can pay extra to see the tigers.
We’re told the tiger remains here at the zoo and it’s unclear what will happen with him. Patrons were escorted out after she was attacked and were never in any danger, Carter said. She passed away after being in critical condition. Staff were provided access to grief counselors, and the zoo is working with Konwiser’s family to establish a memorial fund.
“She is someone that absolutely loved everything that had to do with keeping these tigers and seeing that they were enriched daily”, Carter said, “and I know that just her love for them, if you knew her, then you knew about her love for these creatures”.
The zoo will remain closed until further notice. “She was like a sister to many of us here”, Carter said, calling this a “tragic time”.
Leonardo DiCaprio, who is helping increase tiger population, has said: “Tigers are some of the most vital and beloved animals on Earth”. The Palm Beach Zoo, where she was lead keeper, was creating a new position in an effort to persuade her to stay.
The animal rights group says Konwiser’s death could have been prevented with appropriate safety measures.
This is a very hard situation for all Zoo staff, family members of Konwiser, her family and the extended Zoo family.
Advertisement
The zoo has not said which of the male tigers bit her and the animal is contained according to zoo officials. Such tigers are found only in the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia and the southern tip of Thailand, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
