Tiger mauls American boy

BOGOR, West Java (JP): An American boy who was attacked by a baby tiger at Taman Safari Indonesia in Cisarua over the weekend is in good condition, the park spokesman said yesterday.

Spokesman Asep Firmansyah confirmed the incident, saying that the boy returned to Bengkulu in southern Sumatra with his parents on Saturday.

Aaron Baker, 9, with claw marks at his temple was taken to the nearby Tuberculosis Hospital for first aid. His father, Louis Baker, 43, then demanded that his son be taken to a private hospital on Jl. Kramat, Central Jakarta.

"As an expert at the hospital said the boy was fine, Baker and his family then went home to Bengkulu on Saturday," Asep told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

According to Asep, the incident occurred in the park's baby zoo on Friday.

"The young tiger, which was in the arms of a trainer, clawed the boy when he touched the animal," Asep said, meaning to deny local newspaper reports which said the Bakers got out of their car to take photographs in the drive-through area where adult tigers are kept. (jun)