Keeper bitten by iguana at Columbus Zoo, taken to hospital

A Columbus Zoo & Aquarium zookeeper in on the mend after receiving a bite from a Grand Cayman blue iguana.

According to a statement from the Zoo, the incident occurred yesterday at 11:20 a.m. after the completion of a scheduled eye exam with a spiny-tailed iguana. The spiny-tail iguana shares a habitat with the Zoo’s Grand Cayman blue iguana (who is named Burton and goes by Burt). To conduct the eye exam, keepers were required to place Burt in a crate temporarily.

While a Zoo team member was attempting to move Burt from the crate back into his habitat, “he moved quickly as the crate door opened and caught the animal care team member’s palm,” according to the Zoo’s statement.

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The Zoo’s EMS team responded to the incident immediately, and the keeper–who was not named–was transported to a local hospital at 11:34 a.m. 

The Zoo stated that Grand Cayman blue iguanas, which are among the world’s most endangered reptiles, can reach up 5-7 feet in length and weigh 30 pounds. Burt is approximately 2 feet long an weighs 8.5 pounds.

The Zoo stated that Grand Cayman blue iguanas, which are among the world’s most endangered reptiles, can reach up 5-7 feet in length and weigh 30 pounds. Burt is approximately 2 feet long an weighs 8.5 pounds.

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