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A volunteer who regularly feeds big cats was bitten and seriously injured by a tiger Thursday morning at Carole Baskin’s Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary in Florida, made famous by the Netflix series “Tiger King,” officials said. The nonprofit said Candy Couser, who had been volunteering with the organization for five years, was caught by a tiger named Kimba as she reached for her arm in a cage to unclip a door during the meal time around 8:30 am.
“It is against our protocols for anyone to put any part of their body in a cage containing a cat,” Big Cat Rescue wrote in a statement. “Kimba grabbed his arm and almost tore it in the shoulder.”
Another worker heard the commotion and came running as Kimba let go of his grip. A nurse helped stop the bleeding while another person used a belt as a tourniquet.
An ambulance arrived within 15 to 20 minutes. And, Couser was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital with “serious injuries”.
“Candy was still conscious and insisted that she didn’t want Kimba Tiger to hurt herself for this mistake,” Big Cat Rescue wrote in a statement. “He is placed in quarantine for the next 30 days as a precaution, but was simply acting normally due to the presence of food and the desirability.”
Big Cat Rescue was featured on Netflix’s “Tiger King” this spring. Carole Baskin, an avid animal rights activist, runs the animal sanctuary, which is home to a variety of species in addition to tigers, including ocelots, bobcats, leopards, and cougars, among others.
The facility said bereavement counseling services would be available for those affected by the situation.
“All of the volunteers and staff on site gathered today to discuss what happened. Carole reminded everyone that this kind of tragedy can happen in the blink of an eye and we don’t can’t let go of our guard for a second around these dangerous cats, ”Big Cat Rescue said.
“The fact that despite our intense safety protocols and excellent safety record, an injury like this can occur only confirms the danger inherent in treating these animals and why we need the Big Cat Public Safety to eliminate their non-tracking in courts around the country and end up in shrines where great people like Candy Couser are committed to taking care of those who are rejected by the paid gambling industry, ”said establishment.
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