they first had to get the tiger into a cage, authorities said.
View latest developments on NBCNewYork.com
Zoo employees contained the tiger in a cage as EMTs rushed to the scene and treated the man, officials said.
The victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital in critical condition.
Earlier this month, Amur tiger triplets debuted at the Bronx Zoo, born to mother Katharina and father Sasha.
Zoo animal maulings, while rare, have occurred before, and with deadly consequences.
A man was killed and two others injured on Christmas Day, 2007 at the San Francisco Zoo, when a 300-pound tiger named Tatiana escaped its cage.
Live video: View latest from tiger attack at the Bronx zoo
In 1985, a zookeeper, Robin Silverman, 24, was killed when she was attacked by two Siberian tigers at the Bronx Zoo while trying to clean their cage.
An 11-year-old boy was killed in 1987 by a polar bear at the Prospect ParkZooafter climbing into its enclosure when the zoo was closed.
Updated at 5:40 p.m. ET: By Jonathan Dienst and Shimon Prokupecz, NBCNewYork.com
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/21/14017125-man-jumps-into-tiger-den-at-bronx-zoo-is-badly-mauled?lite
I hope the animals were not injured just because some idiot wanted his 10 minutes of fame.
So, what happened to the Tigers? I mean, this clown jumps into their home and as seen as a threat to the cubs. Wouldn't you think mama or daddy would protect their own? They'd better not do anything to those tigers! That is all that jerk's fault! Jumping into a tiger enclosure…moron.
Lets hope he jumps into an alligator enclosure next time, they won't be so kind..
I hope they don't harm the tiger just because an idiot jumped in it's cage.
I'm with you Karen!!
Seems to me that the first lesson that you learn about big cats is to respect them and their strength and power. No sudden moves. EPIC FAIL ON BOTH COUNTS…AND I hope they don't hurt the tiger either…
wow 5 words dumb thing to do.
I hate it when stupid people do stupid things & jeapordize the safety of animals.
Because now they'll probably put the animal to sleep, and the idiot will sue and be awarded 5 million.