Tiger Attacks Volunteer at Carole Baskin's Big Cat Rescue

Big Cat Rescue is making headlines. Again. 

For the wrong reasons. Again.

A former circus worker who's been volunteering at Carole Baskin's animal sanctuary in Tampa, Florida for the last five years nearly lost her arm to a hungry tiger on Thursday.

Sixty-nine-year old Candy Couser was attempting to feed three-year old Kimba when she noticed the male tiger wasn't in its usual spot. Couser reached into the enclosure to open a gate and, according to Baskin, "Kimba grabbed her arm and nearly tore it off at the shoulder."

Big Cat Rescue staff came to Couser's aid and, using a belt as a tourniquet, sought to control the bleeding from her arm which was broken in three places. An ambulance arrived within 20 minutes to transport her to the hospital for further treatment.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials reportedly said the victim was hospitalized with serious injuries. Surgery was scheduled for later in the day.

Baskin, who is the CEO of the exotic animal attraction made infamous from the Netflix show "Tiger King," said the tiger was "just acting normal due to the presence of food and the opportunity" adding "It is against our protocols for anyone to stick any part of their body into a cage with a cat in it."

Couser said she didn't want Kimba to suffer any consequences for the attack.


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