Handler Bitten By Tiger At Zoo Miami Identified
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An animal handler bitten by a 300-pound tiger at Zoo Miami has been identified.
According to Zoo Miami's Ron Magill, 20-year-old Emily Mack was feeding the tiger with her hands when it bit the tip of her left index finger and let go.
"If you are not on your toes, you are not following protocol, these things happen. It is never the animals fault," he said.
Magill explained the zoo keeper was not following Zoo policy when she shoved meat between the bars of the tiger compound located behind the tiger display area.
"When that happened, the tiger bit the meat and also bit the tip of her finger. It was her index finger on her left hand. The tiger bit and let go," he said.
Berani, the 8 ½-year-old Sumatran tiger that nipped the handler, is known to be laid back but can be aggressive towards handlers.
Rescue crews took Mack to a nearby hospital for treatment.