Experience Of The Week

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In the gift sector there is, or at least was, a rising market in offering unforgettable and, possibly, life-changing experiences. Dwight Turner paid $150 for what was advertised as a “full contact experience” with a black leopard. Amongst the treats in store was the opportunity to “play with it, rub its belly, and take some pictures”.

Perhaps he should have been on alert as the animal’s keeper, Michael Poggi, claimed to run an “animal sanctuary” for rare and endangered animals from his home in South Florida.

The only rubbing of its belly that was done when Turner entered the leopard’s enclosure was by the creature as it immediately attacked him, leaving him with his scalp hanging off and his right ear torn in half. Turner had to have a number of surgical operations to patch him up.

There will now be a legal catfight as Turner is suing Poggi. What happened to the black leopard is unclear. Let’s hope it was taken somewhere more appropriate and not exploited.