Tiger Attacks Keeper At Topeka Zoo, Animal Will Not Be Euthanized

A 7-year-old Sumatran tiger attacked and injured a female zookeeper at a Topeka, Kansas zoo over the weekend, leaving the victim in stable condition at a local hospital suffering lacerations to the back of her head, neck and back.

Zoo director, Brendan Wiley, said the tiger, named Sanjiv, tackled the trainer in its outdoor habitat. Wiley said there was “no consideration” to euthanize the tiger. “The male Sumatran tiger, Sanjiv, simply reacted the way that is normal for a tiger to do,” Wiley said.

The attack lasted less than 10 minutes and occurred while the zoo was open to the public. Molly Hadfield, a spokesperson for the city of Topeka, told CBS News the zoo was shut down for 45 minutes following the incident but has reopened.

Sanjiv, the tiger, was placed into a holding area, and the Tigers were not on display for the remainder of the day. According to Wiley, Sanjiv recently fathered four critically endangered cubs.