Woman Bitten by Tiger After Breaking Into Zoo

After treating a tiger like she would a pet cat and getting bitten by the wild feline in return, a 33-year-old woman sustained injuries on her hand.

Jacqueline Eide was reported as having illegally snuck into the Henry Doorly Zoo at Omaha on Halloween night after opening hours and tried to pet a tiger in its cage.

"When she reached into the cage, she was bitten causing severe trauma to her hand," CNN quoted police as saying. "The Police Department said Eide had been cited for criminal trespass and remained hospitalized."

The zoo had since said that Eide was not the only interloper at the facility - two individuals reportedly illegally entered the place, although it was only Eide who sustained injuries. She "showed signs of intoxication of alcohol and/or drugs" even at the hospital, where police were called in response to a disturbance. The woman reportedly was aggressive to hospital personnel.

"The animal that zoo officials believe bit Ms. Eide was named Mai, an 18-year-old, three-legged Malayan tiger," The New York Times said. "Mai is somewhat of a star at the zoo, known for her "personable demeanor" and ability to navigate around her habitat despite her missing leg."

"The tiger had her front left leg amputated after she was rescued from a poachers' snare as a cub, and was rehabilitated at a zoo in Southern Malaysia before she was transferred to Omaha in 2003," the publication added.

Apparently, despite the "personable demeanor," a tiger will still bite if indiscriminately petted.

The zoo's lead feline keeper had said in the tiger's online profile that Mai was oddly very friendly for a wild tiger.

"She was forced to rely on humans from a young age, so she's pretty trusting. In fact, she'll look for attention from just about anyone," keeper Mike Verbrigghe said.

In the wake of the trespassing, the zoo has since added more cameras and lighting to track the comings and goings of people.

"Additional path lighting is planned for the new African Grasslands exhibit and more cameras will be installed to monitor the grounds and gates," the zoo's chief Dennis Pate said in a statement.

Meanwhile, it was later learned that Eide had been convicted for DUI three times and was even sent to jail in 2011, after her third conviction, Heavy noted.

"She has also been arrested twice this year in Omaha on unspecified charges," the site went on, "and has convictions for graffiti, disturbing the peace, obstruction of justice and shoplifting."

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