UPDATE: 3:30 p.m.
A staff member was accidentally stung by a freshwater stingray while working in the Lied Jungle at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, according to a press release from the zoo.
The employee sustained an injury to the ankle and the barb from the stingray went through the staff member’s protective rubber boots.
Four Zoo EMTs immediately responded and began treatment.
The staff member was taken to the hospital where their injury is not considered life-threatening.
“Our number one concern was the immediate care of our staff member,” said Dr. Luis Padilla, president and CEO for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “The health and safety of our staff, guests and animals is of the utmost priority to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.”
Padilla continued, “We also want to assure the public that Stingray Beach remains a safe experience. The stingrays that live in Stingray Beach are a different species than those in the Lied Jungle. The Stingray Beach stingrays are also managed differently so that they are unable to sting.”
The zoo also stated that it has standard operating procedures and protocols in place to ensure the safety of its staff, guests and animals.
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Omaha emergency dispatch confirmed that first responders received a call at 12:05 p.m. from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, where an individual was injured by a stingray.
The wounded person was transported to Nebraska Medicine. The Omaha World-Herald is reportingthat the injured person is an employee and that it was in the Lied Jungle exhibit and not in the interactive Stingray Beach exhibit.
3 News Now will update the story when more information is available.
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