Man mauled by tiger at Florida airboat attraction was not authorized to be in enclosure, deputies say
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OCHOPEE, Fla. (AP) - A tiger mauled a worker Tuesday afternoon at a Florida airboat attraction, officials said.
The attack occurred at Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours in Ochopee, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. According to Wooten’s website, the attraction includes an animal sanctuary that features two tigers, two lions, otters, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators.
A caretaker was feeding a tiger in its enclosure when another worker who wasn’t authorized to be with the tiger entered the enclosure, deputies said. The tiger attacked the 50-year-old man and caused injuries to both of his arms, officials said.
The man was transported to a hospital. Officials didn’t immediately disclose his condition.
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According to the sheriff's office, all the information they have received so far is "preliminary."
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The tiger’s caretaker was able to safely contain the big cat, officials said. The tiger was not injured.
In December, a custodial worker was mauled by a tiger at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens after entering an unauthorized area. A Collier County deputy shot the animal as its jaw were wrapped around the man’s arm.