VietNamNet Bridge – A woman had to be rushed to the hospital after a tiger a tiger bit her arm at the Trai Bo ecological tourism complex, run by the family of Le Thanh Than, owner of a luxury-hotel chain in Viet Nam. The incident happened late last month.

Three of the white tigers being raised at the Trai Bo ecological tourism complex. A visitor has lost her left arm after being attacked by a tiger at the complex — Photo: VOV

The woman visitor is being treated at the central Nghe An Province's Traumatology and Orthopaedic Hospital.

"The victim was brought to the hospital in a serious condition," said hospital director, Dr Nguyen Hoai Nam. "Her left arm was completely lopped off right till the elbow, and she had fainted due to loss of blood." Doctors had to amputate her entire arm in order to ensure that she survives, the hospital director said.

After two weeks of undergoing the best treatment available, the patient recovered and was doing well. She is now able to eat and talk with her family members, the hospital director said.

She was awaiting a final surgery to stitch the incisions.

Reports said the victim was a visitor named Tran Thi Yen, 21. She was standing 30cm afar from the iron barrier to see the tiger in a cage. Suddenly, the tiger leaped towards her and with its front limbs pulled at her left arm and bit it off.

Immediately, her husband and some visitors nearby took up a stick to beat the tiger.

Guardsmen had to use a long rod to confine the tiger to a corner of the cage.

The group of visitors of which she and her family members were a part was not accompanied by any tourist guide.

The tourism site's management board and victim reached an agreement that included payment of VND150 million (US$ 7,000) to her as a compensation.

The complex manager said the guard force was reinforced after the unexpected accident.

The accident happened at the tiger cage of the 300-ha Trai Bo ecological tourism complex, located in a forest in the central Nghe An Province's Dien Chau District.

The tourism complex now has 30 tigers, including 20 yellow tigers and 10 white ones.

According to the tourism complex's manager, Nguyen Van Hai, a yellow-tiger pair was imported in 2009 and a white-tiger pair in 2010 from Africa.

Two tiger couples were reproduced the present number of tigers.

Besides tigers, there are tens of rare animals including lions, elephants, Zebras, antelopes, giraffes and gayal to serve the purpose of tourism.

VNS