Tiger who attacked handler to stay at Australia Zoo
S D A P — A tiger that attacked its handler at an Australian zoo, mauling him in front of a crowd of shocked spectators including schoolchildren, will remain at the popular tourist attraction, officials said yesteday.
The Sumatran tiger reared up and bit into the neck and shoulder of 0-year-old Dave Styles on Tuesday at the Sunshine Coast zoo founded by the family of the late Steve rwin, famous for his television show Crocodile unter.”
t wasn t an act of aggression. t wasn t the tiger attacking someone, it s ust a normal, daily part of the routine of the tigers and unfortunately we had a mishap,” Australia oo director Wes annion told broadcaster ABC.
Styles, who had raised the animal since it was a pup, has had surgery and remains in hospital in a stable but improving condition.
t s a 120 kilogram tiger, ust pure muscle and it s hard to wrestle off that type of beast,” nglish backpacker Dan Bass, who witnessed the attack, told reporters.
Shock, absolute shock,” he said, describing the scene as the tiger attacked. Screaming, and there were school children there and the teachers did really well to move them away from the glass,” he added.
Workplace health and safety officials are investigating the incident, but oo Association of ueensland s Al ucci said it was unlikely to prompt ma or changes.
When you re working with any large animals in a contact way, incidents do occur from time to time,” he said.
ou are talking about animals that are about 1 0 to 200 kilos in weight versus a human who s about 0 to 100 kilos, so a bump or a scratch... you cop your bumps and your scrapes and this is the same.”