An experienced zoo keeper has been mauled to death by a rare Malayan tiger at a zoo in Florida as she worked in an enclosure.
38-year-old Stacey Konwiser was the lead tiger keeper at the Palm Beach Zoo. She was killed by a 13-year-old male Malayan tiger on Friday.
"Our condolences go out to the Konwiser family in the midst of this tragic loss," zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said.
The rare Malayan tiger was one of four at the facility, held in a contained area, Carter said.
The exhibit has surveillance cameras but is closed to the public, Carter said. It is not known at this time whether there is surveillance footage of the incident, CNN reported.
Zoo officials said it did not appear Konwiser did anything out of the norm as she worked in the enclosure, known as the tiger night house, and prepared to talk with zoo visitors on Friday about the animals in a "Tiger Talk."
"Stacey came here as a lead keeper, she is proficient and efficient in working with these animals," Carter said. "Stacey was up to date on those protocols and executed those daily."
The incident is still considered an open investigation. The tiger was off-exhibit at the time and no guests could see what happened, Carter said. The tiger was never on the loose, contrary to early reports on social media, she said.
West Palm Beach police said the tiger was tranquilised and officers waited until the drugs took effect before they could reach the victim, CNN affiliate WPEC reported.
The tiger involved in the deadly incident is recovering from tranquilisers and remains at the Palm Beach Zoo, Carter said.
Konwiser had worked three years at the zoo and was very experienced with tigers, Carter said. Her husband, Jeremy Konwiser, is also a trainer at the zoo.
"This was her specialty," she said. "She loved tigers. You don't get into this business without the love for the animals and understanding the danger that's involved even more."
Konwiser had a special bond with the big cats, Carter told the Palm Beach Post.
"I kind of referred to her as a tiger whisperer," she said. "They spoke to each other in a language that only they could understand. And I can't put into words or make you understand for anyone who didn't know Stacey how much she loved these tigers and how much this zoo family loved her. And while she's no longer with us, her memory will live on."
Malayan tigers are a critically endangered subspecies. There are less than 250 left in the world, Carter said. The zoo is part of a breeding programme that aims to keep the animals from becoming extinct.
Carter would not comment about the condition of the tiger except to say it has been contained. The investigation is ongoing and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is taking over, the report said.
