A Wild Encounter in Arizona: Jaguar Attacks Woman in the Zoo
What Went Down
In a freaky turn of events at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix, a woman in her 30s tried to get up close with a jaguar for a selfie. She climbed over the fence, slipped right into the cat’s field of vision, and the big feline snapped, leaving a nasty gash on her left forearm.
Body‑Shocking Footage
Cell‑phone footage shows the woman writhing in pain while the jaguar’s claws dig into her arm. “I hear this young girl screaming: ‘Help, help, help…’ and the jaguar has clasped its claws outside the cage around her hand and into her flesh,” witness Adam Wilkerson relayed to Fox 10.
The Rescue Twist
Adam’s mother managed to distract the predator by pushing a water bottle through the cage. The bottle landed in the jaguar’s jaws—an accidental snack—and gave Adam the chance to pull the woman to safety.
After the Attack
The woman was rushed to a hospital for treatment and, after recovering, she returned to the zoo to apologize. Officials are keeping her identity private.
Officials Speak
Shawn Gilleland, spokesman for Rural Metro Fire, said the incident is being fully investigated. “She wanted to take a selfie or a picture of the animal, and she put her arm close enough to the cage that the cat could reach her,” he explained.
The Jaguar’s Safety
According to the zoo, the jaguar never left its enclosure. “We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar,” the zoo posted on Twitter, easing fears that the animal might be put down.
Barrier Reality
Zoo spokeswoman Kristy Morcom told Fox 10 that the exhibit is surrounded by a fence, creating a multi‑foot buffer from the cage. “There’s climbing involved. It’s not something that’s easily done,” she clarified. “These are wild animals and those barriers are put there for a reason.”
