Nevada residents may have learned about a 22-year-old intern who was killed in a zoo when a lion was able to escape a locked space. The 22-year-old was a recent college graduate. The incident took place as the lion’s enclosure was being cleaned by professionals. The cleaning was deemed routine, but one of the lions was able to escape the locked space and quickly kill the victim.
Zoo personnel expressed their devastation at the loss of human life. Law enforcement shot and killed the lion shortly after the encounter. There is an investigation being carried out by officials connected with the zoo to determine how the lion was able to escape the enclosure. According to officials working with the zoo, the incident took place at around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30.
The victim had only worked at the zoo for around two weeks. The zoo houses over 80 animals, encompassing 20 species. They have a number of big cats, including tigers, lions and leopards. In 2004, the zoo worked alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture in accepting some lions and tigers that were confiscated because they lived in unacceptable conditions. On an annual basis, the zoo receives more than 16,000 visitors.
When accidents in public places lead to fatalities and it is thought that negligence may be involved, the surviving family members may wish to speak with a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney may work with the family to evaluate and assemble a civil claim. In the above-mentioned case, an attorney might work with investigators and help the family understand the information presented by investigators and other authorities. The personal injury attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement or interact with an insurance company on the family’s behalf.
