Jungle Island under investigation

On August 28th, a tiger named Mahesh scaled a 14 foot fence at Jungle Island in Miami, FL. to go after a gibbon that had also escaped. The escape terrified visitors to the park, and the park went into lockdown until the tiger could be secured. No one was seriously injured because of the escape; however four people were treated for minor injuries and a fifth was treated for a panic attack.

The tiger was captured by staff without tranquilizers. Staff presented the tiger with a travel crate containing food, and the tiger walked in.

Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) determined that mulch in the cage had shortened the effective height of the fence, allowing the tiger to escape. The FWC charged Jungle Island's president, Bernard Levine, and the tiger's owner, Dr. Bhagavan Antle, for creating the conditions that allowed the escape.

The tigers in the exhibit have temporarily been replaced with liger cubs.

Read More
Article: Jungle Island president, tiger owner charged over escape
Article: Loose Bengal tiger causes brief panic at Jungle Island