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CNN Live Today

Investigation Underway Into Lion Attack

Aired May 13, 2002 - 14:24   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: There is an investigation underway into a gruesome attack at Busch Gardens, the safari park in Tampa, Florida. It happened yesterday, on Sunday.

A lion bit off the arm of a zookeeper, a 21-year-old woman, as she was giving her family a behind the scenes tour.

Various questions today. WTVT now, our affiliate in Florida, Tanya Orjay (ph) has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TANYA ORJAY, WTVT (voice-over): This 21-year-old zookeeper at Busch Garden was conscious as she was rushed to Tampa General Hospital, but you can se her arm is bandaged, after it was severed below the elbow by a lion at the park.

GLENN YOUNG, BUSCH GARDENS P.R.: At approximately 1:45, one of our 21-year-old female zookeepers was conducting a private, behind the scenes visit of the lion's night quarters. This type of visit is not available to the general public and was being conducted for her immediate family.

ORJAY: It happened near the edge of Africa area.

When rescue personnel arrived, they had to act quickly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our rescue personnel found that the arm had actually been severed. Some personnel tended to the young lady while others got the arm ready for transport to Tampa General Hospital.

ORJAY: Park officials say the woman's parents, her boyfriend and two other relatives were with her in an area separated from the lions by metal bars.

YOUNG: She was in the back area, but they're never in with the lions. The lions are always in the protected contact situation.

ORJAY: Because this happened in a back area, most of the guests were not aware this had even happened.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: WTVT again, reporter Tanya Orjay, reporting there out of Florida on that story. We tracked it earlier today, and certainly there is fallout from there. We'll continue to see what goes on there as a result of what took place on Sunday.

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