A POWERFUL tiger launches itself at its keeper – before the pair make an almighty splash into a swimming pool. Staff at the Out Of Africa wildlife park in Arizona allow themselves to be ‘hunted’ by the big cats as part of the ‘Tiger Splash’ show, which sees the animals interact with their keepers as they would with their prey.
The adult Bengal and Siberian tigers have all of their teeth and claws. But despite the danger the bond between the humans and animals stop the brave keepers from being mauled to death. The deadly predators grow to nearly 400kg and 11 foot in length and many of the staff are scarred from playful bites and scratches.