Captive Tiger Attacks Wooten’s Everglades Airboats Employee During Feeding Time: Sheriff

OCHOPEE, FL — A tiger attacked an employee at Wooten’s Everglades Airboats in Ochopee on Wednesday afternoon, according to a Facebook post from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the tourist attraction, located at 32300 Tamiami Trail E. in the Everglades, around 4:30 p.m.

While a tiger was being fed by its caretaker in its enclosure at Wooten’s, another employee, a 50-year-old man, entered without authorization, authorities said.

The tiger attacked the man, injuring both of his arms. He was taken to a nearby hospital by EMS.

The tiger’s caretaker was able to safely contain the animal, which was not hurt, the sheriff’s office said.

Related Story: Tiger Killed After Biting Man's Arm, Dragging It Into Enclosure

It’s the second tiger attack the Collier County Sheriff’s Office has responded to in several months.

In December, a cleaning service worker at the Naples Zoo was bit by a critically endangered Malayan tiger. The worker, who was hired to clean the restrooms and gift shop, was not authorized to be in the tiger enclosure.

The tiger, Eko, was shot and killed after biting the man.

“We are having a hard time comprehending this happening again,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Founded in the 1950s, Wooten’s offers airboat and swamp buggy tours through private Everglades grasslands, according to its Facebook page. It also presents gator shows and has an animal sanctuary with panthers, tigers and 100 gators.