Australia Zoo tiger bites keeper on leg
A zookeeper has been bitten by a Sumatran tiger at the Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.
The 42-year-old man suffered a puncture wound to his leg while trying to move the animal to a different enclosure at Australia Zoo.
He was treated by paramedics just before midday on Tuesday (29th July) and taken to the Nambour Hospital in a stable condition.
Commenting on the incident, Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) Queensland Media Officer Michael Beatty told the ABC "there's always problems with exotic animals.
"They are wild animals, and I'm sure that the keepers at Australia Zoo realise that.
"There can be accidents (and) there have been accidents all over the world.
"Australia Zoo and a lot of other zoos throughout the world ... are extending the breeding program, ... are hopefully preserving these animals.
"There are risks – of course there are risks. But you'd have to say that the good outweighs the bad."
Australia Zoo says the keeper was bitten by Juma, a 129-kilogram, 10-year-old, male Sumatran tiger.
According to the Zoo's website, Juma is often used for filming and is the first adult tiger to be introduced to new handlers.
Australia Zoo promotional image included for illustrative purposes only.
27th November 2013 - AUSTRALIA ZOO TIGER HANDLER RECOVERING AFTER MAULING
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