Iowa aquarium employee bit by shark, officials say

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — An employee at Blue Zoo in West Des Moines was bit by a shark Monday afternoon.

At around 3:07 p.m. the West Des Moines Fire Department responded to a report of a shark bite at the Blue Zoo in the 6900 block of Mills Civic Parkway.

According to the West Des Moines Fire Department, an employee was inside of a tank and performing regular caretaking duties when the employee was bit by a shark, described to be about 18 inches long. The employee was transported to a Des Moines hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The fire department said the employee was professionally trained in animal caretaking.

Blue Zoo, a non-AZA accredited zoo/aquarium, opened its West Des Moines location in May. They also have locations in Oklahoma, Washington, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

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