Zoo officials say that upon reaching into the animal's cage, the tiger bit Edie's hand and caused severe trauma. A friend then transported Edie to the hospital.
Police say the incident may have occurred at 4 a.m. The incident is currently under investigation by the Omaha Police Department.
How Edie managed to enter the zoo is still under investigation. Executive director Dennis Pate told Sky News additional cameras are being installed at the zoo, which is currently staffed by 24-hour security personnel and equipped with computerized locks for entry and exit points.
Zoo patron Ron Hegg told Omaha.com the tiger's actions were understandable. "It's not like it got loose and attacked someone," Hegg said. "It was just protecting its territory."
