Bengal Tiger Mauls Child Of Zoo Worker In TV Station Hall

CINCINNATI - A male Bengal tiger about to appear on television mauled a 7-year-old girl yesterday as he was being led down the TV station's hallway.

Lilly Maynard was in fair condition with injuries to her face and scalp.

Calvin, the 1-year-old tiger from the Cincinnati Zoo, was apparently startled by the girl at WKRC-TV, zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Kress said.

"They had cleared out the hallway but as they were coming around a corner, Lilly was behind them. The cat apparently saw the blur (from her movement) and turned around and swiped at her," Kress said.

The tiger's handler, Janet Rose, immediately restrained the animal, Kress said.

The girl is the daughter of the zoo's education director, Thane Maynard, who was to appear on "12 News Saturday" as part of a zoo program promoting habitat preservation and conservation.

Calvin, who was born at the zoo, weighs about 100 pounds.

He was immediately taken back to the Cincinnati zoo and isolated, Kress said.