Man Severely Mauled by Black Leopard in Broward County Backyard “Zoo”

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on October 30, 2020

A few separate investigations are required after a dangerous mauling accident took place in the Southern Florida town of Davie that resulted in a man being severely maimed by a black leopard while visiting a “backyard zoo” where the leopard was being held captive. The reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are difficult to fathom, and yet here we are.

It was on the last day of August, the 31^st, that a man traveled to the home of another man in order to visit with many exotic animals the second man held in cages and pens throughout his property. According to preliminary reports, the man who owned the animals held a license to be an animal sanctuary for animals deemed either rare or endangered within their home habitats. While the safety of this person’s business practices have yet to run so far afoul of the law, the hygiene and safety of this person’s private menagerie is under investigation.

The second man, who was not named or described in any way, paid the man with the animals a full $150 for the opportunity to interact up close with the captive creatures. Specifically, the second man wanted to enter the cage with the black leopard. What exactly the man hoped to accomplish after entering the pen remains unclear as he didn’t have enough time to do much of anything after entering the pen.

According to the testimony of the “zoo’s” owner, as soon as the paying customer entered the pen, the black leopard attacked them. The attack was apparently brief, and the keeper of the animal was able to retrieve the visitor before they were slaughtered, but the extreme dangerousness of the animal was made abundantly clear. According to the keeper of the animals, the customer’s scalp was torn from their head after the interaction with the exotic creature. Additionally, their right ear was ripped in half.

The current condition of the visitor to the property remains unclear, although we do know that multiple surgeries were required to preserve their life.

An investigation into the incident remains underway, and we are awaiting further information as to what authorities plan to do with the leopard and whether the individual with the animals will be allowed to continue operating their business as usual.

Sources:

• Black leopard severely mauls man in Florida backyard zoo

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.