Woman bitten by tiger after breaking into zoo

A tiger has bitten an apparently drunk woman who broke into a zoo to pet a big cat, US police said.

Jacqueline Eide, 33, suffered a severe hand injury in the incident at the Omaha zoo early on Sunday, police said.

Officers were called to the Creighton University Medical Centre around 7.20am local time after the injured woman showed up.

She was acting aggressively and appeared to be intoxicated, an official said.

Police determined that she had sneaked into the zoo and was bitten when she reached into the tiger exhibit.

The zoo said in a statement that it was likely an 18-year-old Malayan tiger called Mai bit the woman, and asserted that safety and security are priorities at the facility.

The woman has been cited for criminal trespass.

Eide may lose parts of her fingers. Eide was aggressive towards staff at the zoo and showed signs of intoxication by drugs or alcohol, according to KETV.

Police say she somehow got around the zoo’s fence and security and was attacked when she tried to pet the tiger.

Eide was cited for criminal trespass. She served prison time for her third DUI in 2011, and was arrested twice in Omaha so far this year.

Her criminal record includes drunk driving, graffiti, disturbing the peace, obstruction of justice, and shoplifting.