A dangerous situation unfolded at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium when a cheetah allegedly smelled another animal on a zookeeper -- and attacked.
The incident happened Thursday when two staffers were walking the 4-year-old cheetah named Isabelle on a harness and leash, the zoo said.
One second she was purring. But her next move sent workers scrambling for safety and help.
“At this time, Isabelle’s care team had her sit and she was calm and purring. The team invited the keeper to approach closer. When the keeper approached them, Isabelle crouched down and lunged toward the Heart of Africa keeper, who works around giraffes and other hoofstock," the zoo said.
The zookeeper was somehow not seriously injured. First responders transported the employee to a hospital for evaluation, but said it was only “out of precaution.”
The worker was later released, the zoo said.
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Officials did not release the name of the zookeeper.