Palm Beach Zoo officials say the 300-pound male Malayan tiger that killed zookeeper Stacey Feige Konwiser is healthy and that there is no threat to its welfare following the incident Friday that resulted in her death.
“There will never be blame assigned to the tiger. There has never been any consideration to euthanizing the tiger,” zoo spokeswoman Naki Carter said at a Sunday afternoon press conference at the zoo.
The zoo, closed since the incident happened at about 2 p.m. Friday in the tiger night house, will reopen 9 a.m. Monday, said Carter.
“Stacey would want us to move forward together. I don’t have the words for the grief we are feeling,” said Carter.
The tiger is one of three male tigers at the zoo. Carter would not identify which of the three big cats was involved. The zoo also has one female tiger.
A fund has been set up on the Palm Beach Zoo website for the Konwiser family. Konwiser's husband Jeremy works at the zoo on Summit Boulevard.
An investigation is being conducted by several state agencies, including Florida Freshwater Fish and Conservation Commission, West Palm Beach Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Carter did not know when the investigation would be completed.
“Stacey loved big cats. We are moving forward as a family to advance her life’s work,” said Carter.