Lion bites worker at Utica Zoo; zoo closed Wednesday

The Utica Zoo is closed today after a lion bit a zookeeper, sending them to the hospital.

The Utica Zoo said that a female staff member was bitten by one of its male African lions during a “routine feeding and closing procedure” Tuesday afternoon. The worker was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and released later Tuesday.

“At no time was the public or any other staff at risk, and the lions did not at any time have access outside of their enclosure,” the zoo said in a statement.

The zoo said it contacted its accrediting body, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, informing them of the incident.

“There will be no punitive action against our lions,” Utica Zoo Executive Director Andria Heath said. “An incident occurred which is being reviewed, will be learned from and we are all grateful our staff and animals are okay.”

Heath told WKTV that the zoo would be closed Wednesday “to allow our team members to talk with each other and do their routines for all of the animals and have a day of self-care, along with caring for the animals.”

Heath said it will conduct a thorough review of its procedures. In the meantime, the Utica Zoo’s lions will remain off-exhibit.

Utica police and fire departments responded to the scene, according to the Rome Sentinel.