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Busch Gardens Director Discusses Lion Attack

Aired May 13, 2002 - 12:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back in southeastern Texas, we continue to watch the fires burn and the smoke come out of this refinery fire -- the Shell refinery in Deer Park, Texas, which is just east of Houston. Getting word now that an interstate, a highway in the area, has been completely shut down. That plant, as you can anticipate, is being evacuated right now.

Luckily, no injuries reported just yet. And the fire officials we spoke with about 30 minutes ago say they have the blaze under control, but certainly precautions still being taken. KPRC, our affiliate in Houston, bringing us those pictures. We'll watch it again throughout the afternoon here.

Officials at Florida's Busch Gardens say a 12-year-old lion will not be destroyed, after biting off the arm of a zookeeper. The zookeeper's arm, bitten off below the elbow in that incident on Sunday. The 21-year-old employee, taking family and friends on a behind-the-scenes tour of the animal's sleeping quarters. The lion is named Max, a 350 pound male.

On telephone, Glenn Young, Busch Gardens Director of Operations, joins us for more on what happened there yesterday -- sir, can you hear me OK?

GLENN YOUNG, VICE PRESIDENT OF ZOOLOGICAL OPERATIONS, BUSCH GARDENS: Yes I can. And actually my name is Glenn Young, you're right, but I'm the Vice President of Zoological Operations.

HEMMER: OK, we'll take that correction -- well noted. What happened yesterday, sir, and how often is it that a behind-the-scenes tour is available to employees there?

YOUNG: Well, we have a procedure that allows employees to take family behind the scenes after an approval process. And it happens -- hard to say how many times, but it happens rather frequently. And, like I said, it goes through the approval process. And this is one of those behind-the-scenes family tours.

HEMMER: OK. What is your understanding, sir, of the facts as it went down yesterday afternoon?

YOUNG: Well we're still obviously gathering all the information and all of the facts as well. But I can tell you, at this point, we're looking at everything that happened. We're looking at all of our procedures and protocols. It appears that they were following at this point. So we're still trying to get as much information as we possibly can. And we'll take it -- obviously take it very, very seriously, and want to talk to as many people as we can and make sure that everything was done according to our procedures and protocols, which it appears it was at this time.

HEMMER: The 21-year-old woman, we described her at 21 years of age. Is that a common age for people to be around animals such as Max?

YOUNG: Yes, it certainly can be. We have people that work here in all different ages, all the way up to people that have over 25 years of experience with us. So they're in their upper 40s and 50s.

With her yesterday, too, were three other keepers that work in that area. And we always work in teams and in pairs. And, in fact, one of those keepers that was with the young lady the other day had over 25 years of experience.

HEMMER: Max will not be put to sleep, is that right?

YOUNG: That is correct.

HEMMER: And if that's the case, is that indicating to us -- and I don't want to put words in your mouth to what happened yesterday -- is that indicating that the woman was at fault clearly in this case?

YOUNG: I'm not going to speculate at this time. Like I said, we're still getting all the information together and gathering all the facts. But, at this point, we have no reason to believe that we should do anything, other than just take care of Max like we always do.

HEMMER: Glenn Young, thank you sir -- good luck to you. Glenn Young by telephone there in Florida about what happened yesterday, Sunday afternoon at Busch Gardens.

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