‘Tiger whisperer’ mauled to death by endangered animal at zoo

Stacey Konwiser, known to colleagues as ‘the tiger whisperer’ was in the animal’s enclosure when she suffered a ‘severe bite’, which claimed her life an hour later.

Officials at Palm Beach Zoo have paid tribute to the 38-year-old, who was an experienced tiger handler.

It is the first time an animal has killed someone in the Florida zoo’s 60 year history. Zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter told the Palm Beach Post: ‘We’re all doubled over. ‘This is a death of a family member.’ 

Her husband Jeremy also works at the zoo. The tiger who bit Konwiser was an adult male Malayan tiger – described as critically endangered. It is not known what will happen to the tiger, one of four at Palm Beach Zoo. The attack was not witnessed by visitors.