Stacey Konwiser, a 38-year-old zookeeper and tiger expert known as the 'tiger whisperer,' was mauled to death by a 350-pound Malayan tiger at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida. She suffered a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular, and other neck injuries, according to the Palm Beach County medical examiner.
Konwiser screamed for help into her radio in her final moments, but the 12-year-old tiger, named Hati, crushed her neck before co-workers could reach her. The attack occurred in 2016 as she went to tend to the male Malayan tiger. She was rushed to St Mary's Medical Centre but later died of her injuries, according to CBS.
Circumstances of the Attack
The tiger's cage was supposed to be locked but was open, and Konwiser's view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box in the tigers' night house, an area removed from public eyes, according to medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman. Horrified co-workers found the tiger standing over her body. Zoo officials said they did not shoot the tiger as they feared a bullet could hit Konwiser or make the tiger momentarily more dangerous.
Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter told the Palm Beach Post: 'This is the first death at the hands of an animal in the history of the Palm Beach Zoo.' She added the tiger was not on display at the time of the attack and visitors were never at risk. Naki said Konwiser was known as 'the tiger whisperer' due to her exceptional handling of the zoo's four Malayan tigers.
Zookeeper's Experience and Dedication
Naki said Konwiser had worked with the Malayan tigers for more than three years and had observed 'stringent safety protocols' daily. She said: 'Stacey is an expert. She came here as a lead keeper [and] is proficient in working with these animals.'
'This is an endangered species and Stacey understood the dangers that come with this job. She had a passion for this job and that's the only reason you become a keeper. She understood that every single day she was putting her life at risk to save the lives of others, specifically Malayan tigers. She dedicated her life and she understood what came with that.'
'As a zoo family we are mourning the loss of our lead keeper, and our hearts are with her husband. While we will never speak with her again, her memory lives on.'
Aftermath and Calls for Inquiry
The Malayan tiger, which is a critically endangered species, was tranquillised, according to West Palm Beach police. Naki said at the time: 'The tiger is recovering from tranquillisers, is doing fine and is here at the zoo. I want to underscore that the tiger remains at Palm beach zoo.'
Earlier in the year she was killed, Konwiser posted a photograph of a tiger to Facebook that she called 'the newest man in my life.' Her grieving husband was also a keeper at the zoo, which shut for a period after the tragedy.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund issued a statement calling on OSHA and the US Department of Agriculture to launch an inquiry and impose 'the maximum penalty' on Palm Beach zoo for what it said was a preventable incident. 'As long as employees are allowed to work in dangerously close proximity to tigers, elephants and other dangerous animals, a significant risk or serious injury or death persists. Since 1990 there have been at least 24 deaths and 265 injuries caused by big cats in the United States. These attacks, and scenarios where an animal escapes, have also resulted in the deaths of over 128 big cats, many of whom were endangered species.'
