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Australia Zoo keeper attacked by tiger.

A keeper has been attacked by a tiger at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Ambulance said paramedics took the man in his 40s to Nambour hospital with scratches and puncture wounds.

Australia Zoo owner Terri Irwin said on Twitter that the man was attacked after the tiger got “hot and bothered”.

“One of our tigers got hot and bothered and scratched a keeper,” she said.

“Keeper is ok, tiger is ok.”

It is not the first time a big cat has attacked a man at the zoo.

In 2013, a handler was mauled after a Sumatran tiger became overexcited during a play session.

This post originally appeared on ABC News.

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Top Comments

Ella 9 years ago

Felines bite and scratch - really big felines just do more damage then their domestic counterparts.

Just an idea, maybe they should be treated as wild animals and given more space and respect?
I'm not against zoos per say, tiger habitat is disappearing at the rate of nots, however, zoo keepers must remember that they're dealing with wild animals or risk injury.

craigvn 9 years ago

You are right, we expect wild animals in captivity to behave better than domesticated cats. The average house cat scratches, bites and all kinds of things.


KayleyPoppet 9 years ago

Hope the keeper makes a speedy recovery. They are wild animals, it is always a risk.