Tiger Mauls Woman at Indy Sanctuary for Rescued Big Cats

Tiger Mauls Woman at Indy Sanctuary for Rescued Big Cats
Tara MacIsaac
6/23/2013
Updated:
6/23/2013

Tiger mauls woman: A 21-year-old woman was mauled by a tiger at an Indiana sanctuary for big cats on Friday when a sliding door was left open.

Marissa Dub was brought to hospital after the attack; she suffered a head injury, but was responsive to questions, reported the Indy Star. The tiger griped her head, releasing it after her coworkers sprayed its face with water and lured it away with meat, according to Reuters.

The tiger was in a holding area outside of the main habitat, but a sliding door between the spaces was left open, reported the Star, citing a Clay County Sheriff’s Department statement.

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center (EFRC) in Center Point, Indiana, houses large felines that have been neglected, abused, or kept illegally. One of the largest rescue centers in the United States, it is a non-profit caring for about 230 animals.

The 18-year-old male tiger that attacked Dub, Raja, has been at the center for several years, reported the Star. Dub is believed to be an intern.

In March, a lion at a California animal park killed 24-year-old intern Dianna Hanson. Investigators reported at the time that the feeding cage door was likely only partially closed, allowing the 5-year-old lion to escape and attack. 

A Visit to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, February 2013


Children’s program, Friday Zone, on local Indiana station WTIU, filmed a segment at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in February. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.