In South Africa, a zookeeper was killed by a Siberian tiger after the animal climbed a 12-foot electric fence that was turned off at the time for maintenance.
Reports from The Sunday Times confirm that David Solomon worked at Seaview Predator Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. When trying to escape the 675-pound tiger named Jasper, the man suffered a broken neck.
“David was unfortunately in the passageway between two tiger enclosures walking towards the water supply taps when the incident occurred, and Jasper got out,” the zoo said in a statement. “The electric fencing in the enclosure housing our Siberian tigers, Jasper and Jade, was being repaired when Jasper jumped on the exterior fence and got out.”
David attempted to climb the fence of a different enclosure to get to safety but was pulled off the fence by Jasper,” the statement continued.
The tiger pulled Solomon with excessive force and caused the zookeeper’s neck to break.
Officials from the zoo confirmed that the tiger jumped, trying to get the attention of Amber, another female Siberian tiger. After that, Jasper then fought and killed another tiger named Judah.
After the tragedy happened, park managers declared an emergency and immediately asked the public to leave the zoo.
This is the first incident that happened and the park. Officials say the loss of Solomon has “left every one of us heartbroken and traumatized.”
Solomon has been working at the zoo for 15 years and has raised Jasper since he was a cub.
The zoo currently has no plans to euthanize Jasper. At this time, the tiger is presently living with Amber and has calmed down since the tragic incident.
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