Stacey Konwiser, a 38-year-old zookeeper and tiger specialist known as a 'tiger whisperer,' was mauled to death by Hati, a 12-year-old Malayan tiger, at Palm Beach Zoo in 2016. She sustained injuries to her head, neck, and chest and died from a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular vein, and further neck injuries, according to the Palm Beach County medical examiner.
Final Moments and Emergency Response
In her final moments, Konwiser called for help over her radio, but the 350-pound tiger crushed her neck before colleagues could reach her. The tiger's enclosure was supposed to have been secured but was found open, and her line of sight to the animal may have been obscured by a large box inside the tigers' night house, a restricted area away from public view, according to medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman.
Konwiser was rushed to St Mary's Medical Centre but succumbed to her injuries, according to CBS, reports the Daily Star. Her horrified colleagues discovered the tiger standing over her body. Zoo officials chose not to shoot the tiger, fearing a bullet could strike Konwiser or provoke the animal into greater aggression.
Zoo Official's Statement and Safety Protocols
Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said Konwiser had worked with the Malayan tigers for more than three years and had adhered to 'stringent safety protocols' on a daily basis. Carter said: 'Stacey is an expert. She came here as a lead keeper [and] is proficient in working with these animals.'
Carter added: '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.'
Aftermath and Investigation
The tiger was tranquillised and remained at the zoo, according to Carter. '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,' she said. The Malayan tiger, a critically endangered species, was tranquillised, according to West Palm Beach police.
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 public display at the time and visitors were never in danger. Konwiser was referred to as 'the tiger whisperer' owing to her management of the zoo's four Malayan tigers. Earlier in the year she was killed, she shared a photograph of a tiger on Facebook, calling it 'the newest man in my life.'
Konwiser's husband, also employed as a keeper at the zoo, was devastated. The zoo closed its doors for a period following the tragedy. The Animal Legal Defense Fund released a statement urging OSHA and the US Department of Agriculture to launch an investigation and impose 'the maximum penalty' on Palm Beach Zoo for what it described as an entirely preventable incident. The statement said: '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.'
