A man stuck his hand in a jaguar pen at a Florida zoo, taunting the cat. He got clawed.

[Zorro]

In his 21 years at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said he had never responded to an animal incident taking place in the zoo — that is, until Wednesday, when a man was injured after reportedly sticking his arm inside the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ jaguar enclosure.

Prosswimmer, a public information officer, said authorities had transported the unnamed individual — who did not sustain life-threatening injuries — to the hospital after receiving a call around 4:30 p.m.

What led to this unusual event was a too-close encounter with Harry, the zoo’s 12-year-old jaguar, the Florida Times-Union reported.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens did not respond to requests for comment from The Washington Post. However, Kelly Rouillard, the zoo’s marketing director, told the local news outlets that the man had climbed over the waist-high safety barrier that separates visitors from the animals — then made “a foolish decision” to put his hand through the fence and taunt the wild cat.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/07/30/jacksonville-zoo-jaguar/

Florida man. Again.

[dalton99a]

1. Florida Man Is Very Smart

[mchill]

2. Hope he didn't give the Big Cat COVID

[SheltieLover]

12. Most zoos are vaccijating for covid.

No worries!

[mchill]

23. Most or just starting?

I’m concerned about taking my cats into the Vet as they are now letting pet owners inside.

[SheltieLover]

24. Personally, I wouldn't unless it's unavoidable

I've seen headlines stating cats are particularly susceptable. Sorry no link, but you can google if interested.

I saw (& posted) an article 2-3 weeks ago about zoos vaccinating animals to protect against covid.

I had a conversation with a worker at my vet & said I wish there was a covid vax for dogs & he said they've had a coronavirus vax for 30 years. Apparently it is part of the multi vaxes dogs usually get. But couldn't say if it works for this covid.

[mchill]

29. I doubt it works for this COVID

There is a vaccine for cats for a different coronavirus, but recommended against (I think a nose spray)— must have to do with effectiveness. There is a coronavirus that infects most cats but in a small percent mutates to a fatal form causing the disease FIP. A precursor to Remdesivir was to be the therapeutic for cats with this mutated version of the more ubiquitous coronavirus but then COVID came along an Gilead switched gears. Just an FYI for anyone who has a cat with FIP and caught early, it can be obtained on the black market from China.

[SheltieLover]

30. I doubt that old vax works for this virus

I personally would not buy anything black market. 😰

[mchill]

36. It is what the Chinese use on their cats with FIP

There is a whole Facebook group dedicated to facilitating the purchase. Members of the group who have purchased and given daily injections for 7 (?) weeks are reporting success. The breeder of my cats used it on a kitten successfully. When the alternative is certain death….I think the success rate is about 90% but doesn’t work if the medication is started too late in the course of the disease. The use of this particular drug was trialed by Nels Pederson DVM at UC Davis Vet School and he laments that Gilead dropped the ball on their trials and let the Chinese run with it. The group has sussed out the good manufacturers from China.

[SheltieLover]

37. Glad to hear it is helping kitties

[Midnight Writer]

3. No doubt emulating his "grab'em by the pussy" hero.

[MoonRiver]

33. Probably just got the terms confused

[tblue37]

4. F around & find out.

[Sneederbunk]

5. We need man's name for shaming purposes.

[rsdsharp]

16. We pretty much already know who he voted for.

[Mosby]

6. If this keeps happening Zoos are going to make it harder

To see the animals. There was another incident just the other day in San Diego at the elephant enclosure.

[sdfernando]

8. Hadn't heard about the San Diego incident

Do tell, I live just down the street from the zoo.

[Mosby]

9. A guy took his 2 yo into the enclosure

Video at link. They are going to ruin the Zoo experience for everyone.

https://nypost.com/2021/03/22/video-shows-dad-enter-san-diego-elephant-enclosure-with-child/

[LiberatedUSA]

7. Did he put any sauce on it?

If you’re going to feed yourself to a wild animal, the least you can do is provide the dipping sauce.

[North Shore Chicago]

15. Indeed

Should have applied tons and tons of CATsup for kitty. What a fool endangering himself (don't care much) and the big cat for whom I do care.

[Wounded Bear]

10. There's a reason they say, "Quick as a cat."

Testing your reflexes against a jungle cat is an exercise in Darwinism.

[SheltieLover]

13. No kidding!

Covididiot, no doubt!

[getagrip_already]

21. even a housecat is not to be messed with....

They will get your hand if you keep it to close them dangling a toy. They are very fast when attacking. Much faster than a hoomahn.

[Demovictory9]

22. Yep..and will pretend not to.care until its too late for your hand

[UpInArms]

11. Play stupid games

Win stupid prizes

[Niagara]

14. Here kitty kitty....

[lunatica]

17. Jaguar fixes stupid

[The Magistrate]

18. Do Not Taunt Happy Furball...

[roamer65]

19. Jaguar...

Ah...lunch!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. Finger sandwiches!

[roamer65]

25. Hot dogs!

Kitty likes tube steaks!

[ZonkerHarris]

26. the zoo will not take any actions against the jaguar and would also not press charges against

the zoo will not take any actions against the jaguar and would also not press charges against the man, who they do not believe was acting out of “malicious intent.”

[NickB79]

27. Too bad it wasn't his dick

Darwin was so close to getting his daily sacrifice

[Mad_Machine76]

28. FAFO

[Xavier Breath]

31. Must have misunderstood the intent

of that Cat Scratch Fever song.

[Meowmee]

32. They should make it impossible to climb over any barriers.

[lpbk2713]

34. Here, hold my beer ...

while I put my hand inside this cage.


Big stupid.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

35. Lucky it was just a scratch

The Jaguar has the strongest bite of all the big cats with about 2000 pounds of force. The dufus could've been minus a hand.