News Digest

‘Tiger whisperer’ keeper Stacey Konwiser mauled to death at Florida zoo

A tiger has fatally mauled a woman keeper inside an enclosure at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida. Stacey Konwiser, 38, suffered a “severe bite” wound while inside the big cat’s habitat on Friday afternoon, say zoo officials. She was performing basic tasks with the male Malayan tiger at the time, said zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter. The tiger was not on exhibit at the time of the attack and guests were never in danger, Ms Carter added.

This is the first death at the hands of an animal in the history of the Palm Beach Zoo.

Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter

Ms Konwiser was taken to St Mary’s Medical Center, where she died. West Palm Beach police said the Malayan tiger, a critically endangered species, was tranquillized. Ms Carter said Ms Konwiser was known as “the tiger whisperer” because of how well she handled the attraction’s four Malayan tigers. It is not known which big cat carried out the attack, but the victim earlier this year uploaded a photo of a tiger to Facebook. Ms Konwiser, who was married to another keeper at the zoo, commented on the picture: “The newest man in my life.”