On Saturday, March 9, a woman visiting the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, an Arizona zoo, was mauled by a jaguar. Early reports came out saying that she jumped the zoo barrier in an attempt to take a selfie with the animal.
A witness said they heard someone screaming for help and rushed over to find the woman with her arm pulled up against the jaguar’s enclosure with the big cat’s claws stuck into her arm. They were able to distract the wild animal by pushing a bottle into its cage to get it away from the woman.
The zoo released a statement saying that according to witnesses, the woman crossed the barrier for a photo of the animal and at no time was the animal out of its cage. In addition, reports claim she was not in the enclosure. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park also informed people that the woman received no life threatening injuries from the jaguar.
The woman involved later came forward to say that she was not trying to take a selfie with the jaguar, but was just reaching over the barrier for pictures of the wild animal. She explained that she and her family saw that the big cat was against the barrier and thought they could snap a few good pictures.
She admits to being in the wrong for leaning over the barrier but says that the zoo should move their barrier back, saying, “Anybody can reach out. I’m not the first, and if they don’t move the fence, I’m probably not going to be the last.”
Also in the statement, she voiced that she feels horrible about the bad media the zoo is getting and realizes that it was her mistake. She made it clear that she loves the zoo and visits it frequently.
According to the video of the incident and statements released, the only injuries were gashes on her arm, for which she received several stitches at the hospital.
This is not the first time a jaguar attack has happened at this particular zoo. Last summer, at the same enclosure with the same jaguar, a man was clawed and received stitches as well.
Both people said that the zoo barriers around the jaguar’s enclosure are too close and want the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park to move it back further than the current length of three feet.
The zoo says that the barriers are up to code and that their rules just simply weren’t being followed.
People on social media were reaching out to the zoo after news of the incident broke out, asking what would happen to the jaguar. The zoo responded by saying that the jaguar will not be euthanized for a human’s mistake; she is a wild animal, and not at fault when the rules are not followed.
For now, the jaguar has been removed from the enclosure while the zoo is investigating the incident. There are no signs that its removal is permanent.
Briana Spurlock
Reporter