In 2005, a tiger attack in southeast Kansas turned deadly
While the number of tiger attacks in the U.S. have declined since the turn of the century, Saturday morning's incident at the Topeka Zoo reminds us that they can still occur - and in some cases can be deadly.
In 2005, a seventeen-year-old
by a tiger while taking her senior pictures at a animal sanctuary in southeast Kansas. Haley Hilderbrand was being photographed with the seven-year-old tiger at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary, in Mound Valley.
Despite being restrained by a trainer, the 550 pound, male tiger turned and attacked Hildebrand. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers at the time shot and killed the tiger.
The USDA
Lost Creek's license the following year. Its operators, Doug and Keith Billingsly, were placed on probation until October 2011.
In its ten-page decision, the USDA cited several violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including not maintaining adequate veterinary care and allowing the public to have direct contact with adult tigers.
