Tiger handler hurt in rough play at Australia Zoo

Tiger handler hurt in rough play at Australia Zoo

By Glenis Green
March 09, 2009 03:42pm

A TIGER handler needed stitches to an arm gash after being scratched by a Sumatran tiger in a play session at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.

Zoo director Wes Mannion confirmed today that the handler had been injured late yesterday and taken to hospital for “about two stitches” before being released.

Mr Mannion said the tiger was a young male called Juma, which had been hand raised at the zoo since arriving as a cub and the scratch was part of a rougher than usual playtime, not an attack.

He said the handler was doing well and would make a full recovery.

The tiger incident follows a January scare at the zoo when a reptile handler required treatment in Nambour General Hospital after being bitten by a brown snake while he was trying to feed it a mouse.

Mr Mannion said that handler had made a full recovery and been back at his job after about a week.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25160549-3102,00.html

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