Trainer clawed on legs by tiger at fair as children look on

PENSACOLA, Florida — Organizers of a Florida Panhandle fair say a trainer required hospital treatment after being clawed on the legs by a tiger as children looked on.

Pensacola Interstate Fair publicist Katie King told the Pensacola News Journal that trainer Vicenta Pages suffered several cuts Tuesday when a 2-year-old Bengal tiger named Gandhi clawed her legs.

The publicist says Pages’ husband rushed to help the trainer. Pages stood up unassisted and talked to the children before going to a hospital. King adds Pages wasn’t bitten. The fair was closed at the time and no children were hurt during the field trip showing.

The White Tiger Show was canceled for the remainder of the fair, which runs through Sunday.

Animal Control officials weren’t called, and King says the tiger won’t be harmed.