
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003290683
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CINCINNATI                                LENGTH: Short

BEAR ATTACKS KEEPER

A polar bear attacked its keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo, tearing off her hand and some of her forearm, a zoo spokewoman said.

Laurie Stober was in fair condition following surgery Wednesday night at University Hospital. Her surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman, remained hopeful that she would retain her elbow, zoo spokeswoman Susan Burgmann said.

Zoo officials said the bear attacked Stober, 25, through the bars of its cage.

"The best that we can reconstruct, she was either feeding or watering the animals and he was able to grab hold of her fingers and pulled her arm in," Burgmann said.

Stober has worked with the zoo's bears about four years, Burgmann said.

"These are very dangerous wild animals, and when they do this, they are just acting naturally," she said.

Burgmann said the bear stopped the attack on its own and wandered away as another zoo attendant ran for help. She said the zoo doesn't plan to take any action against the bear.

by CNB