Zookeeper Survives Tiger Mauling

A tiger attack at the San Antonio Zoo left a zoo keeper in critical condition on Saturday, reports the Associated Press. The attack took place in the early afternoon within the tiger's enclosure. A spokeswoman for the zoo, Dawn Campos, said that the man was expected to recover. "He was very, very fortunate. He's going to be fine." Jeff Tierney, who is in his 20s, a specialist in big cats, received multiple wounds to his head and body, according to Express News. The tiger that attacked him is a male Sumatran, about 4 or 5 years old. The attack closed down the zoo for the remainder of the day, but officials anticipated a reopening the next day, Sunday. Also on Sunday, the zoo keeper's condition was upgraded to stable. The zoo does not intend to put down the tiger responsible.

It is not the first time that an animal has attacked a keeper at the San Antonio Zoo. Back in 1992, a 37-year-old elephant, Ginny, lifted a keeper with her trunk and tossed him. The keeper later died from the extensive head trauma. Nine years before that, a 410 lb. male gorilla, Mopie, severely injured another keeper after being squirted with water that the keeper was using to clean Mopie's cage.