Tiger Attacks Woman at Keepers of the Wild

Ky Plaskon, Reporter

May 18, 2006 07:27 PM EDT

A tiger attack sends a woman into surgery at University Medical Center. The attack happened at an animal sanctuary just over the Nevada-Arizona border.

Jonathan Kraft runs Keepers of the Wild animal sanctuary. He told long-time friend Linda Faso that two of his tigers — Zeus and Nico — attacked a woman this month.

Linda Faso is an independent animal activist. "When a tiger attacks it is like a stick of dynamite. It is so quick. They were walking one of the tigers to do exercise and the lady opened the cage and for an unknown reason one attacked her and the other tiger came out of the cage and got on her as well," she explained.

The woman was flown to UMC where she had surgery and is now waiting for a hospital bed.

Faso continued, "I know she is in the hospital with really severe injuries. She has a broken arm and possibly broken legs and I am really concerned that this lady will never be okay."

Kraft didn’t call the authorities. So Faso did.

USDA spokesperson Darby Holladay stated, "There is an open investigation against Keepers of the Wild." Holladay also said the agency started investigating this week.

Kraft could loose his license.

Holladay continued, "Suspension of license. Revocation of license or civil penalty or monetary fine."

Kraft wasn’t available to talk to Eyewitness News. According to his website, he came to the U.S. from Holland and Faso said he intended on starting a Siegfried and Roy-type show. But he fell into the sanctuary business with lions and tigers.

Faso said, "He started with good intentions. But when you get too many, it becomes such a financial burden."

Tax filings show Kraft’s assets for the sanctuary are severely in the red. Nonetheless, he’s building a new one.

The sanctuary gets many of its donations from Las Vegas.

Animal activists believe the attack happened last Sunday, May 14. By law, authorities cannot destroy the tigers unless they have rabies. It is up to the sanctuary if it wants to destroy the animals.

Email reporter Ky Palskon at kplaskon@klastv.com

http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4923908&nav=168Y

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