A green-winged macaw at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo didn’t survive its injuries Tuesday after it was attacked by a tiger.
The bird, which joined the zoo in November, was practicing for a presentation -- learning to eventually fly from the new Secret Jungle to the outdoor theater -- when it detoured into the Sumatran tiger habitat, which opened to the public last week as part of the zoo's $24 million, 10-acre expansion.
“The bird flew up in the air, went over into the tiger habitat where it was engaged by the tiger, who obviously knocked it down,” zoo spokesman Ryan Gross said.
The lead tiger keeper at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo has been with the city’s newest and biggest predators since the beginning of their voyage.
It’s unclear whether the tiger swatted the bird out of the air or after it landed, Gross said. Zoo staff immediately moved the tigers inside, and a veterinarian was treating the injured macaw within about 5 minutes of the attack.
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The bird later died at the zoo’s on-site veterinary clinic.
The zoo has suspended future flight rehearsals, Gross said. “And we’re gathering as a group to look at how we can in the future eliminate situations like this.”
The zoo -- and the tigers -- remained open to the public Tuesday.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Kumar stands on the opposite side of the glass from John Chapo, president and CEO of the Lincoln Children's Zoo. The zoo hired an Ohio company to retrofit an old Jeep and split it down the middle, so the tigers can sit on one side of the glass and the public on the other.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Axl explores the perimeter of the new tiger enclosure.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Kumar stands on the hood of the Jeep feature in the tiger enclosure at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
Meet the zoo's new tigers
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Kumar (left) and Axl, moved to the Lincoln Children's Zoo in October from the San Diego Zoo.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Lead tiger keeper Kim Jacobson rewards Kumar during behavior training.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Axl is a 3-year-old, 260-pound Sumatran tiger who moved to Lincoln in October. A donor paid enough for naming rights, and named the animal after the lead singer of Guns N' Roses.
Meet the zoo's new tigers
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
One of the zoo's two new Sumatran tigers killed a wayward macaw Tuesday when the bird flew into the tiger habitat.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Kumar climbs on a barrel in the new tiger enclosure at Lincoln Children's Zoo.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Axl, one of two Sumatran tigers now at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, inspects the tigers' side of the Jeep feature. A 2-inch pane of glass separates the driver's seat, where the public can pose, with the passenger side.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Lead tiger keeper Kim Jacobson rewards Kumar during behavior training at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
Lincoln Children's Zoo tigers
Axl, one of two Sumatran tigers now at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, explores the perimeter of the tiger enclosure.
