Wellington wildlife sanctuary must pay $2,786 after jaguar bit off part of visitor’s thumb

WELLINGTON, Fla. - A Wellington wildlife sanctuary must pay a penalty of $2,786 for an incident last year in which a jaguar bit off part of a visitor’s thumb.

The Panther Ridge Conservation Center Inc. reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over alleged violations on the handling of animals in a public exhibit. The center neither admitted nor denied the allegations.

On Feb. 19, 2010, a volunteer led a female visitor around the 10-acre center, home to nearly two dozen cheetahs, pumas, jaguars and other cats. The volunteer allowed the woman to pet the jaguar through its cage, and the cat bit her thumb.

Mary Morris, attorney for Panther Ridge, said the volunteer had taken the woman to an unauthorized area without permission.