Tiger kills zookeeper: West Palm Beach Police release 911 zoo call


West Palm Beach Police has released the 911 call made from the Palm Beach Zoo in Florida after a tiger injured a zookeeper on Friday, leading to the 37-year-old woman's death.

The caller doesn’t mention a tiger nor a zookeeper until 1 minute, 37 seconds into the call.

On Friday afternoon, Palm Beach Zoo lead keeper Stacey Konwiser was injured by one of four tigers at the zoo in West Palm Beach and later died from her injuries at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

In the 911 call, an unidentified caller calmly tells the dispatcher the address of the zoo, without mention of it being the zoo, saying they need a paramedic. It’s only at the 1:37 mark that she mentions the animal incident. It’s unclear as to how much of the call was redacted.

“What is wrong?” the dispatcher asked.

“For now, I’d like for you to please send the paramedics to the Palm Beach Zoo, can you please confirm you’re doing that at this time? I’m getting more information,” the unidentified woman said.

“No, I need to know what’s wrong with the patient before I can before I can (muffled) anyone.”

“I know this call is recorded, I’m noting the time. Please send paramedics at this time while I’m gathering information,” the woman said.

After the woman said there was an animal situation and a keeper is injured, the dispatcher asks the woman if she knows what kind of animal.

“Yes, it was a tiger, ” the woman said.

The caller asks the dispatcher if they have rescue trucks on their way and the dispatcher assures her they are headed to the zoo as they’re talking.

“I need to, I have other job duties as well, so once you’re done with me let me know,” the caller said.

“I can’t, I need to find out just a little bit more information,” the dispatcher said, trying to keep the woman on the line.

“It’s impossible for me to get any additional information at this time, unfortunately,” the caller replies. “But we definitely need paramedics. It’s a tiger and it’s a person.”

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