MEMPHIS, May 25 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Memphis Zoo said a zookeeper was hospitalized after being bitten in the leg by a Bengal tiger.
Zoo spokesman Drew Smith told the Memphis Commercial Appeal the zookeeper did not suffer critical injuries in Sunday's attack, but was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Smith said the incident occurred when the unidentified zookeeper entered a walkway to the zoo's tiger cages, only to find the Bengal tiger in the walkway.
After being bitten in the upper right calf by the animal, the injured zookeeper was able to leave the walkway and seek help. The full extent of the injuries was not reported.
Smith told the Commercial Appeal the incident at the zoo would be fully investigated to determine how it took place and what will happen to the 3-year-old tiger.
"The incident is under investigation right now to see what exactly happened and what we could do policy-wise to help make sure that it doesn't happen again," the spokesman said.
