Be careful with your cheetahs, Saeed!

30 March 2008, 16:13

Just ran across this - first thing I thought of was Saeed:

Cheetahs maul woman at wildlife sanctuary
She's attacked during exhibition at conservation center in Florida
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WELLINGTON, Fla. - The owner of a wildlife sanctuary was attacked by two cheetahs and hospitalized with about 40 puncture wounds to her extremities and back, authorities said.

Judy Berens was airlifted Saturday to Delray Medical Center, but it appears her injuries are not life-threatening, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.

Berens owns and operates Panther Ridge Conservation Center, which provides homes for exotic cats, authorities said.

She was conducting an exhibition with two male cheetahs in an enclosure on Saturday when one became distracted by a ball being bounced outside, the sheriff's office said. The cheetah moved toward the ball quickly and knocked her to the ground.

The cheetah then pounced on her and began biting and clawing her, said Gabriella Ferraro, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman. At some point the other cheetah attacked her as well, Ferraro said.

Several people entered the enclosure and rescued her, authorities said.

Ferraro said the cheetahs remain on the property in cages.

Wildlife officers are investigating the attack, but so far it appears there no violations and no laws were broken, Ferraro said.

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Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

30 March 2008, 17:23

Saeed

John,

Thanks for the warning.

We had two large males in one enclosure, and they used to fight.

I always went in an seperated them, and never had any problems at all.

31 March 2008, 16:39

JohnCrighton

I think what happens, especially in this country, is people anthropomorphize animals (I call it the Disney Syndrome) and think that if they LOOK cute and cuddly, then they ARE cute and cuddly and are no longer wild. This can lead to bad things happening.

I have no doubt that you are a very effective and knowledgeable "Master of the House"

quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
John,

Thanks for the warning.

We had two large males in one enclosure, and they used to fight.

I always went in an seperated them, and never had any problems at all.