Tiger mauling: fatal spinal injury

Tiger attack at a Japanese safari park: a case report

BACKGROUND

Big cat bites are highly lethal due to the enormous bite force of these animals. This article reviews the morphology of these types of injuries and key points of management through a survival case at a Japanese safari park.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 26-year-old female keeper who was attacked by a tiger. She was quickly transported to our university hospital by ambulance helicopter. The keeper was severely bitten on the head and face and had wounds all over her body. Craniofacial repair was performed by emergency surgery. She suffered mild facial nerve paralysis and trismus because of being bitten by the tiger and is currently recovering.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary approach of the severe tiger bites successfully treated a young woman cosmetically and mentally. Animal farms and zoos that keep tigers should take strict measures to avoid direct confrontation with tigers.

Human attacks by large felid carnivores in captivity and in the wild

Whereas those who live in the native ranges of the large feline carnivores are well aware of the risks of cat and human encounters, North Americans and Europeans are increasingly exposed to exotic animals through travel, ecotourism, leisure pursuits in rural areas, occupational exposure, zoo and animal park visits, wild habitat encroachment at the urban-wildlands interface, and contact with exotic pets. In encounters during which persons have been severely injured, lapses in animal management protocols, lack of appropriate adult supervision, and intoxication have been reported. Unlike common domestic pets that have lived in close association with humans for thousands of years, no matter where individual large felines may have been raised, they remain wild carnivores with strong prey-drive and territorial instincts. The emergency management of large felid attacks is similar to that of other major trauma: stabilization; management of significant orthopedic, neurologic, vascular, and soft tissue injuries; antibiotic coverage provided for the number of organisms that inhabit their mouths and the potential for tetanus and rabies; and early management in survivors of likely posttraumatic stress disorder. We must actively explore responsible measures globally that can be taken to ensure biologically appropriate, ethical, safe, and sustainable conservation of these large carnivores in both their natural habitats and captivity.

Rogue-elephant-inflicted panfacial injuries: a rare case report

Attacks by elephants, the largest of the “large animals,” produce many fatalities a year. Most attacks are provoked, although rogue elephants are occasionally responsible. Trampling, goring, tossing the individual with the trunk, or crushing with the knees produces the injuries. Injuries from encounters with large animals represent a significant health risk for rural communities. Wild-animal-inflicted maxillofacial injuries are rare, and limited literature is available describing their management. We present a case of severe maxillofacial injuries caused by the attack of a rogue elephant.

Increasing incidence of injuries and fatalities inflicted by wild animals in Kashmir

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the causes of the increased incidence of injuries inflicted by wild animals in Kashmir, and to suggest preventive measures.

METHODS

A retrospective study reviewed records of these injuries. Data were collected from the hospital in Srinagar and from the Wildlife Protection Department of Kashmir.

RESULTS

A total of 203 attacks (26 deaths and 177 near-fatal injuries) were recorded from January 2005 to October 2007, involving 145 (71.5%) male and 58 (28.5%) female victims. The attacking animal was a black bear in 104 (51.2%), a leopard in 18 (8.8%), a wolf in 7 (3.4%) and unidentified in 74 (36.4%) cases; 130 (64%) of these attacks occurred in southern Kashmir.

CONCLUSION

The steady increase in human population in areas close to jungle results in deforestation and destruction of wildlife habitat. The reduction in monkeys and deer (the staple food of leopards) causes these dangerous predators to search for food in the areas occupied by humans, who may then be attacked. Treatment of these cases requires a multidisciplinary approach, including an orthopaedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, microbiologist and psychiatrist, to achieve best cosmetic and functional results.

Injuries from leopard attacks in Kashmir

Increased incidence of wild-animal attacks has made these a serious threat to public health in Kashmir. To establish patterns of injury and management, 35 case histories were reviewed. After resuscitation, of paramount importance were vigorous irrigation, removal of all foreign material, administration of antibiotics, and prophylaxis against rabies and tetanus as indicated. A multidisciplinary approach and aggressive management are necessary to prevent death and provide acceptable cosmetic and functional results.

Captive Tiger Attack: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tigers, as well as other large predators, are being held in private settings with increasing frequency. Unregulated private “zoos” are cropping up in many rural and suburban settings across the country. The number of attacks from captive predators also is on the rise. This case highlights the potentially violent and aggressive nature of wild animals held in captivity. Treatment principals and wounding patterns of large cat attacks are emphasized.

Basic instinct in a feline

Reported cases in Europe of large felines attacking humans are rare. Recently, in France, a man was attacked in an animal park by a tigress he had raised. He received fatal cervical wounds. This case of death by bites and lacerations, together with others in the recent international literature, underline the hereditary ferocity of such felines and the way in which they prefer to inflict lesions to the neck.

Neurological symptoms 27 years after tiger bite

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