Tiger attacks, kills veteran keeper at Palm Beach Zoo
Police officers enter the administration building at the Palm Beach Zoo after zookeeper Stacey Konwiser died while being attacked by a tiger today in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Damon Higgins/Palm Beach Post via AP)
Nina Blakeman, right, of the Palm Beach Zoo receives a hug inside the zoo office after zookeeper Stacey Konwiser today in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Damon Higgins/Palm Beach Post via AP)
In this March 7 photo, Stacey Konwiser smiles during the dedication of the new tiger habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, Fla. Stacey Konwiser, 38, was attacked and killed by a 13-year-old male tiger in an enclosure known as the night house that is not visible to the public, Palm Beach Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said. It’s where the tigers sleep and are fed. (Brianna Soukup/Palm Beach Post via AP)
MIAMI » A Malayan tiger attacked and killed a veteran keeper this afternoon at a South Florida zoo, officials said.
Stacey Konwiser, 38, was killed by the 13-year-old male tiger in an enclosure known as the night house that is not visible to the public, Palm Beach Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said. It’s where the tigers sleep and are fed.
The tiger was tranquilized and authorities had to wait until the sedative took effect before they could come to Konwiser’s aid, West Palm Beach police spokeswoman Lori Colombino said.
Media reports said guests were herded into the gift shop for a short time out of an abundance of caution. Police also confirmed that the tiger was in a contained area and guests were not at risk.
“At no time was any guest or visitor in danger. At no time was any animal loose,” Carter said.
The zoo said it will remain closed Friday, and Carter said they will make a determination about Saturday later.
Zoo officials said Konwiser’s husband was also a zoo keeper there. Grief counselors had been sent in for the staff, and zoo officials said they were reaching out to Konwiser’s family members, who live out of state. They declined to comment on whether there had been other incidents with the tiger.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said they planned to investigate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also investigating.
5 responses to “Tiger attacks, kills veteran keeper at Palm Beach Zoo”
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complacency is usually what gets you although that’s pure speculation in this case. condolences to the family.
Article sketchy about keeper and if she was in the enclosure? Was it part of her job o be in the enclosure? If yes, I’d find another place to work? Sorry for family. Condolences.
“The tiger was tranquilized and authorities had to wait until the sedative took effect before they could come to Konwiser’s aid, West Palm Beach police spokeswoman Lori Colombino said.”. So this means that the tiger was more important than giving aid to the zoo keeper?
She was probably already obviously dead. Why kill the tiger for doing what tigers do? This was probably human error, either in the design of the enclosure, her actions, or both.
Tigers, lions, bears, whales, dolphins, etc are not meant to be held captive.