200-Pound Bear Mauls Handler at St. Louis Zoo

A 200-pound bear attacked a St. Louis Zoo employee, but the handler made his way out of the pen and is expected to recover.

The male Malayan sun bear jumped on the worker during a routine morning transfer of animals from their indoor pens to outdoor space, said Bill Boever, the zoo’s director.

He said Douglas Weiss, 42, suffered cuts, bites and puncture wounds on his arms and legs.

Boever described the attack as “typical bear behavior.”

“They’re wild animals; they’re aggressive,” he said. “They’re saying: ‘You’re in my space. You’re getting too close. I’ve got to do something.’ ”