Tiger Kills Worker at Florida Animal Park
July 31 -- The owner of a wild animal park in central Florida shot and killed a 550-pound Siberian tiger there after the big cat fatally mauled a park employee, sheriff's deputies said today.
The 49-year-old worker, whose identity was not released, had secured the animal in an adjoining cage at the Savage Kingdom, but it appeared the tiger broke through a chain-link fence. The worker was making repairs on the tiger's cage at the time of the incident.
According to paramedics, the animal — a mixed-breed Siberian tiger called Tia — severely mauled the man's head and neck.
Another employee alerted the park owner, Robert Baudy, who shot the tiger with a rifle, allowing rescue workers to enter the cage, the Sumter County sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office is investigating the incident.
Baudy, 77, was well-known during the early 1950s, when his animal acts were regularly featured on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Savage Kingdom breeds and raises exotic animals for zoos and attractions around the world, and admission to the park is restricted.
In March 1997, park employee Sam Lee was mauled in the leg by a 400-pound tiger at the facility, but survived the attack.
Josh Wilson, of ABC affiliate WFTV, contributed to this report.
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