Man hospitalized after being bitten by a tiger at Naples Zoo; tiger dies after being shot

Reporter: Gail Levy Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:
Credit: WINK News

A man, who was a third-party contractor, was seriously injured by a tiger after going into an unauthorized area at the Naples Zoo Wednesday. The tiger was shot and killed by law enforcement.

Lee Health told WINK that a person was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital after being bitten by a tiger and pulled into its enclosure. According to a statement from Naples Zoo, the man was cleaning in an unauthorized area when that tiger attacked him.

Collier County Sheriff’s deputies have begun speaking with a few of the zoo’s employees. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is at the scene as well.

Officials think the man, believed to be in his 20s, was either petting or feeding the tiger when it grabbed his arm and dragged him into its enclosure.

Collier County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene just before 6:30 p.m. The first deputy attempted to get the tiger to release the man’s arm but was forced to shoot the animal.

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