The fascination of interacting with wild animals has captivated millions. For some, it has provided a career that few would have the courage to undertake. However, a person’s dedication and love for wildlife can often cloud his judgment, leading to a painful demise. Here are 10 individuals whose passion cost them their lives in the most horrific, bloody, and terrifying ways.
# Trainer Stephan and Bear RockyRocky, the five-year-old grizzly bear who stood almost 230 centimeters (8 ft) tall and weighed 320 kilograms (700 lb), had appeared in numerous commercials and movies. In 2008, Rocky appeared alongside Will Ferrell in the movie Semi-Pro as they dueled it out in the wrestling ring.
On April 22, 2008, trainers and cousins Stephan and Randy Miller were practicing routine maneuvers with the animal for a promotional video when Rocky suddenly pounced on Stephan. Rocky bit Stephan on the neck and violently tossed him around like a rag doll. The incident lasted only a few seconds, and Rocky was ultimately subdued by handlers using pepper spray.
# Trainer Stacey Konwiser and TigerStacey Konwiser, 38, had worked for the Palm Beach Zoo for three years when she was attacked and killed by a 13-year-old male Malayan tiger in April 2016. Her death was the first fatality in the zoo’s 60-year history.
According to reports, Konwiser had been preparing for the evening shift. She was cleaning the lair where the tigers slept as well as feeding the felines when the animal attacked.
# Trainer Alexis Martinez and Killer WhalesAt Loro Parque’s Orca Ocean, Alexis Martinez, 29, had been working around the clock training killer whales to create an amazing show in celebration of the upcoming holidays. Loro Parque—a zoological park in the Canary Islands which houses everything from dolphins, sea lions, and birds—had four killer whales that were on loan from SeaWorld.
On the morning of December 24, 2009, Martinez was in the water practicing standard acts performed in the show. Suddenly, the 3,000-kilogram (6,600 lb) killer whale Keto charged at Martinez and used its nose to forcefully push and drag Martinez to the bottom of the pool. Fellow trainers rushed to the scene and tried to halt the ferocious attack. But they were unsuccessful. After three minutes of forcefully submerging Martinez underwater, Keto finally resurfaced carrying Martinez’s limp body.
# Trainer Charlynn Taketa and HorseCharlynn Taketa, 62, grew up around horses and became the very definition of a horse lover. In the early 1970s, Charlynn began training and racing horses. She won her first competition in 1972. In 2010, after years of retirement, Charlynn decided that she wanted to get back into training. She purchased a horse named Caballito De Mar that she trained and raced in October 2010.
On August 11, 2011, Charlynn was taking Caballito to a hot walker when a second horse suddenly appeared, kicking Charlynn in the head with its hind legs. She fell to the ground and was bleeding profusely from her head.
# Trainer Ali Khan Samsudin and SnakesAli Khan Samsudin was a Malaysian snake charmer who earned the name “Snake King” after setting numerous records for his death-defying acts involving the world’s most dangerous, carnivorous reptiles.
In the early 1990s, he rose to fame after locking himself in a small room with 400 cobras for 12 hours a day for 40 days. He was also known as the “Scorpion King” after he locked himself in a box with 6,000 scorpions for three weeks. He was bitten 99 times. It is evident that Samsudin lived life on the edge, enjoying the thrill as to how far he could take it to the limit. In 2006, Samsudin’s luck ran out when he was bitten by a cobra while entertaining fans.
Samsudin’s family rushed him to Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Unfortunately, the grim reaper came to collect three days later. Samsudin died at age 48.