Woman Who Got Into Zoo To Pet Tiger Is Fined

Jacqueline Eide suffered a "severe" hand wound when she disturbed the big cat, called Mai, by dodging CCTV cameras.

Eide and three-legged Mai, who bit her after being disturbed

A woman who was bitten by a three-legged tiger after she got inside a zoo so she could pet the animal has pleaded guilty to trespassing.

Jacqueline Eide, 33, admitted entering Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha, Nebraska after a social function last Halloween.

She was bitten by an 18-year-old Malayan tiger called Mai when she reached into the animal's exhibit.

Eide then ended up in Creighton University Medical Center with a "severe trauma" to her hand.

Police said she acted aggressively and appeared to be intoxicated when officers were called to the hospital.

At the time, zoo executive director Dennis Pate said additional cameras were being installed.

He said security cameras, path lighting and computer-controlled locks monitor exit and entry to the zoo.

The zoo said last year that Mai had been at the zoo since 2003 and is "very friendly, which is odd because she came from the wild".

At court on Monday, Eide was fined $250 and ordered to pay costs. Two misdemeanour charges were dropped in a plea deal.