Malayan Tiger Kills Palm Beach Zookeeper

A zookeeper died after being attacked by a Malayan tiger at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida on Friday. Stacey Konwiser, a 38-year old passionate lead keeper for three years suffered multiple wounds which lead to her death.

An efficient proficient tiger whisperer Stacey as what her co-workers call her was doing her regular daily job on the day of the incident.

"This was not out of the norm. What occurred was out of the norm," said Naki Carter, Palm Beach Zoo spokesperson.

DBTechno reported that Konwiser was in the back area where the animals eat and sleep when the incident happened. She was preparing the tiger for a show when the male tiger suddenly attacked and bit her.

After restraining the tiger, Konwiser was immediately rushed by a Trauma Hawk helicopter to St. Mary's Medical Center, where she lost her breath.

The attacker is one of the four tiger participants of the zoo's program to help preserve the less than 250 tigers in the wild in danger of extinction.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund appeals for the zoo management to be penalized as they find the incident avoidable.

A statement released by the group says, "As long as employees are allowed to work in dangerously close proximity to tigers, elephants, and other dangerous animals, a significant risk of serious injury or death persists."

Palm Beach Zoo has been in operation for 60 years and records tell that this is the very first incident that someone has been killed by an animal on their premises.

The zoo will be closed temporarily while investigation on the incident is in a row. The management however refused to give full details on the incident but is expected to release a decision on the zoo's reopening once the assessment has been completed this weekend, according to Tri-County Sun Times.

Stacey Konwiser's mourning husband who is also a keeper on the zoo and the rest of the family are planning a private ceremony for her, as per Fayette Advocate.

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