A 21-year-old woman remains hospitalized in Indiana for a head injury she sustained when a tiger mauled her last Friday at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana. She is in serious condition.
Authorities say caretaker Marissa Dub was cleaning 18-year-old Raja’s pen when the attack occurred. Raja had been put in a holding pen for the main habitat cleaning, but a door had not been secured properly. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said another employee heard Dub scream and ran to the scene to find Raja’s mouth around Dub’s head. Dub’s coworkers sprayed Raja’s face with a water hose in an effort to get the animal to let go. Raja was then lured away with meat.
Dub’s family released this statement on Monday: "We would like to let everyone know that Marissa is resting. We appreciate the thoughts, prayers and concern for her and our family during this difficult time. We will not be making any further statements, and we would greatly appreciate the respect of our privacy."
The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is home to 230 animals that have been abused and neglected. Between 130 and 140 of those animals are tigers. Raja has been living at the facility for several years.
Three months ago, a similar accident in California left a 24-year-old woman dead. Dianna Hanson was cleaning an African lion’s pen at Cat Haven in Dunlap when the 550 pound animal escaped a holding area through a partially opened door and attacked her. Hanson died of a broken neck.
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