WEST PALM BEACH (CBS12) — A female zoo employee has died after getting bitten by a tiger at the Palm Beach Zoo Friday afternoon, according to a report from WPEC. The male tiger has been put down.
Palm Beach Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said 38-year-old Stacey Konwiser was killed by a 13-year-old male tiger, according to CBS Miami. She was airlifted to a hospital where she died.
Her husband also is a trainer at the zoo.
The zoo has been evacuated and will remain closed for the next two days, according to spokeswoman Naki Carter.
West Palm Beach police said it happened inside a contained area just before 1:45 p.m. Konwiser was getting ready for a Tiger Talk program at the time of the incident.
Animal Control told CBS12 it had taken the initial call about a zookeeper being injured in an incident with a tiger. Capt. David Walesky said Animal Control referred the call to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Police said the tiger was tranquilized. Authorities had to wait until the drugs took effect on the tiger before rescue crews could get to Konwiser.
An employee at the zoo called the situation a "staff emergency." Guests were sent to the gift shop for safety, and safety protocols were initiated, according to the zoo.
Carter told CBS12 the tiger did not escape the enclosure. The incident took place in the night house where the tigers sleep.
It is the first fatality at the zoo.
Carter added no one inside the zoo was in jeopardy.
EMS stationed on Parker Ave where trauma hawk picked up reported victim of incident with tiger at PB zoo @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/B5pwGbTDAx
— Cory Pippin (@CoryPippinTV) April 15, 2016
