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Juan Camilo Guarin / Unsplash
An American man was mutilated by a black leopard after entering his cage to take pictures (File photo)
An American man was mutilated by a captive black leopard at a South Florida backyard zoo, wildlife officials said.
The man paid $ 150 (NZ $ 226.6) for a “full contact experience” with the black leopard, allowing him to play with it and take pictures, local television station WPLG reported.
A report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the incident occurred on Aug. 31 in Davie, which is near Fort Lauderdale.
The agency accused the owner of allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal and was cited for keeping captive wildlife in unsafe conditions.
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The owner runs a licensed animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animals in the home, WPLG reported.
The man was attacked as soon as he entered the leopard enclosure. The injuries were so severe that his scalp “hung from his head and his right ear was torn in half,” according to the report.
He required multiple surgeries, according to the television channel.
