A woman has been attacked by a jaguar at an Arizona zoo after climbing over a barrier near the animal's enclosure so she could get a better photo.
Witnesses said the woman was trying to take a selfie with the jaguar on Saturday when it lashed out at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix.
She had climbed over a barricade to get closer to the jaguar's enclosure when the animal reached out and swiped at her.
The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm and was bleeding heavily.
Footage shot by a witness showed the woman lying on the floor crying in pain as she nursed her injured arm.
Zoo officials acknowledged the woman had climbed over the barricade and said they were investigating.
'We regret to inform that this evening, before closing there was an incident reported involving a guest, who crossed over the barrier to get a photo, according to eye witnesses,' Wildlife World Zoo said in a statement.
The visitor sustained non-life threatening injuries to their arm from one of our female jaguars. At the request of the family, paramedics were called. At no time was the animal out of its enclosure. The incident is being fully investigated.'
Zoo director Mickey Ollson said it is the second time in a month that the jaguar has swiped at a visitor.
The zoo said the jaguar would not be euthanized.
'We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar,' the zoo said on Twitter.
'She's a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe- not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed. Still sending prayers to (the woman) and her family.'
Woman attacked by a jaguar after climbing over a fence at Arizona zoo | Daily Mail Online
Witnesses said the woman was trying to take a selfie with the jaguar on Saturday when it lashed out at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix.
She had climbed over a barricade to get closer to the jaguar's enclosure when the animal reached out and swiped at her.
The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm and was bleeding heavily.
Footage shot by a witness showed the woman lying on the floor crying in pain as she nursed her injured arm.
Zoo officials acknowledged the woman had climbed over the barricade and said they were investigating.
'We regret to inform that this evening, before closing there was an incident reported involving a guest, who crossed over the barrier to get a photo, according to eye witnesses,' Wildlife World Zoo said in a statement.
The visitor sustained non-life threatening injuries to their arm from one of our female jaguars. At the request of the family, paramedics were called. At no time was the animal out of its enclosure. The incident is being fully investigated.'
Zoo director Mickey Ollson said it is the second time in a month that the jaguar has swiped at a visitor.
The zoo said the jaguar would not be euthanized.
'We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar,' the zoo said on Twitter.
'She's a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe- not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed. Still sending prayers to (the woman) and her family.'
Woman attacked by a jaguar after climbing over a fence at Arizona zoo | Daily Mail Online
