Florida man mauled by black leopard at private zoo

The man paid for a “full contact experience” with the rare big cat. He had to have several surgeries afterwards.

A Florida man was mauled by a black leopard after paying the owner of a private animal sanctuary for a “full-contact experience” with the rare cat, a report said.

Dwight Turner, 50, had to undergo several surgeries from the August 31 attack in an enclosure behind the home of Michael Poggi in the town of Davie, WPLG reported, citing a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

RELATED: Bull on the loose in Sydney

RELATED: Products dropped for ‘monkey labour’

Michael Poggi, has a Facebook page saying he runs an animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animals. Picture: WPLG Local 10 Miami

RELATED: Terrifying ‘tarantula with wings’

RELATED: ‘Oh my God’: Kangaroo fights with koala

Turner had paid $150 to “play with” the black leopard and “rub its belly” behind Poggi’s home, according to an FWC report.

The animal charged at Mr Turner once he walked into the enclosure. One of his ears was ripped apart and his scalp was “hanging from his head” following the attack, the report said.

Michael Poggi is legally allowed to own leopards. Picture: WPLG Local 10 Miami

Poggi, who has a licence to have the leopard, was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal.

He allegedly admitted his wrongdoing to police, the report said.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission