Tapir Bites Off Zookeeper’s Arm
A tapir pulled an Oklahoma City zookeeper into its cage and bit her arm off at mid-biceps as she tried to feed the animal before the zoo opened, authorities said. The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, also suffered facial injuries and a punctured lung and was in critical condition at University Hospital. Her arm could not be reattached, a surgeon said. Oklahoma City Zoo officials are not certain why the Malayan tapir named Melody attacked the keeper. The tapir’s 2-month-old baby was also in the cage. The piglike, donkey-sized tapir is an herbivore related to the horse and rhinoceros.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.