911 Call for Tiger Bite

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Updated: 2:01 PM Nov 18, 2008 911 Call for Tiger Bite Luray, Va. The Page County Sheriff's Office has released the 911 tape from Sunday's attack. Posted: 6:13 PM Nov 17, 2008 Reporter: Michael Hyland Email Address: mhyland@whsv.com

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A 16-year-old girl is recovering at the University of Virginia Medical Center Monday after a tiger bit her. It happened at the Luray Zoo and Reptile Jungle Sunday afternoon.

Maj. Russell Montgomery, Page County Sheriff's Office, says the victim is an employee of the zoo.

The sheriff's office got an emergency call just after 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Montgomery says it was a five-year-old Bengal tiger that bit the employee.

The victim was flown to the UVA Medical Center. Montgomery says she had severe injuries on her left hand and arm. It's unclear what led to the tiger attacking the employee.

WHSV News 3 obtained a copy of the 911 tape. Below is a transcript:

911: "Page County 911. Where is your emergency?"
Caller: "Um, can you please send an ambulance out to Luray Zoo for possible..."
911: "What happened? Ma'am? What happened? What happened?"
Caller: "Um, our tiger actually bit one of our staff."
911: "OK. Can you tell me how bad?"
Caller: "It's bad. She's lost a finger."
911: "OK. How old is she?"
Caller: "Uh, 16."
911: "Sixteen? Ok. Is she conscious right now?"
Caller: "I'm sorry?"
911: "Is she conscious right now?"
Caller: "Yes."
911: "OK, we'll dispatch the squad. If anything changes call me back."
Caller: "All right."
911: "Bye bye."

Managers at the zoo declined to comment Monday about what's being done with the tiger, but they did say that the employee is doing well.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Mutosh Location: Va on Nov 24, 2008 at 09:04 AM

This was an unfortunate accident on the young employee's fault. I just hope the parents are understanding enough to realize this was not an aggressive attack on the girl. Tigers are very powerful and Star could have pulled the girl's arm in, and having not done so, shows the animal wasn't trying to attack the girl. Considering the facility is a rescue zoo, I would assume that Star was hand raised on a bottle before she came to Luray Zoo, so she may have even sucked on fingers as a kitten. Star doesn't necessarily; realize how powerful she is compared to us. I wish everyone would give the Luray Zoo a break about this issue.

Posted by: Tina Location: Page on Nov 22, 2008 at 10:55 AM

A tiger is a wild species...and for it to be said it was "just playing"...hello the girl lost her finger, if it was playing it would not have bit down enough to take her finger...something set if off. She may love pets and thats great; but a little too young to mess with such big wild animals, but I don't blame her nor the animal...BUT it is one of the wild, don't ever know what to expect. Even a pet dog or cat can turn for some reason, if it feels threatened by any chance it may react in it own defense. The thing is now that it attacked it may do it again; its a situation you don't know what is best to do about the tiger. I'm not an expert on the wild but maybe turn it back to the wild where the others roam. But I do hope the young girl is recovering okay.

Posted by: Brett Location: Luray on Nov 20, 2008 at 09:23 PM

I also worked at the Luray Zoo for more than 3 years, and I know the 16 year old girl who got bit. I was on staff when Star (the tiger) came to the zoo, and she is very well cared for, and loved by everyone involved with Luray Zoo. As far as I'm concerned, there is no one that can be blamed in this incident: neither the tiger, the caretaker, nor the tourist who tried to help. A tiger, even though she has been raised in captivity, will always retain the qualities that they would use in the wild. Some times things just happen at the wrong place and time. My prayers go out to everyone involved in this situation, but no blame should be placed on anyone, especially not the caretaker, the tiger, or the Luray Zoo. The Luray Zoo is an exceptional rescue zoo, and, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best run facilites that I have ever encountered.

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