When Exotic Pets Turn on Owners

In Pine County, Minnesota in 2006, 52-year-old Cynthia Gamble was found dead inside the cage of her 500-pound Bengal tiger. She had entered the enclosure for routine care when the tiger suddenly lunged and mauled her to death.

Gamble was known locally as an experienced animal lover who had raised the tiger from a cub. But in a split second, instinct overrode familiarity. The tiger was euthanized on-site. The tragedy shocked the community and prompted new regulations around exotic animal ownership—reminding everyone that wild predators don’t recognize love, only opportunity.