Toledo Zoo keeper injured by female tiger

5/12/2008

An unidentified Toledo Zoo keeper was treated at a hospital yesterday for three minor lacerations to his chest after apparently getting too close to one of the zoo s pair of 5-year-old female tigers, a zoo spokesman said.

The employee was doing normal rounds, caring for the zoo s tigers, Marta and Kat, about 8:30 a.m. in an area he has worked before without incident.

A paw thought to be Marta s reached through a double mesh barrier at an odd angle and lacerated his chest, the zoo said.

The incident occurred before the zoo opened to the public. The keeper didn t return to work, but he was released after hospital treatment and able to carry on with a planned trip in the afternoon, a spokesman said.

Zoo Director Anne Baker said the tigers didn t get outside their exhibit or show any sign of escaping.