Photo: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens/AFP via Getty Images
A cleaning service worker who a critically endangered tiger attacked after he put his arm into its enclosure at Florida’s Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens could face charges, according to authorities.
On Thursday, theCollier County Sheriff’s Officereleased body-camera footage from one of their deputies that responded to the incident, during which the 8-year-old Malayan tiger was shot and killed.
“The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is releasing body-camera video and working with state and federal prosecutors to investigate a serious encounter a member of a third-party cleaning service had with a Malayan tiger Wednesday evening at the Naples Zoo,” the sheriff’s office shared on Facebook along with the graphic footage.
“Rosenquist, who had already breached an initial barrier, put his hand through the enclosure fence and the tiger grabbed it and pulled his arm into the enclosure. A CCSO deputy responded to the scene. The deputy initially tried to get the tiger to release the arm but he was left with no option but to shoot the animal in order to save Rosenquist’s life,” the Collier County Sheriff’s Office wrote of the attack on Facebook.
The cleaning company is not responsible for maintaining the zoo’s animal enclosures.
“Our deputy did everything he could do in that situation and he ultimately made the only possible decision he could in order to save this man’s life,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk shared in a statement following the incident. “This was a tragic encounter at our world-class zoo facility. We value our community partnership with the Naples Zoo and their focus on conservation and education.”
Per the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s update on Facebook, the office’s investigation with state and federal prosecutors into the attack “will determine whether criminal charges will be filed against Rosenquist.”
According to the Naples Zoo, the facility closed for the day on Thursday to “allow officials to complete their investigation late into the evening” and “allow the Zoo to begin its own internal investigation and to allow our staff to process what has occurred and to begin the painful healing process.”
The zoo added that Eko, the tiger killed during the attack, “will be deeply missed.”
The Naples Zoo reopened on Friday and has createda question and answer page about the tiger attackon their website to “help dissolve rumors.”
source: people.com
