Australia Zoo trainer stable after tiger bite

An Australia Zoo tiger handler is in a stable condition tonight after having emergency surgery to treat a leg puncture wound caused by one of the animals in his care.

The experienced handler - believed to be 48-year-old Mark Turner - was bitten shortly before midday, and was taken by an ambulance to Nambour Hospital.

The Sunshine Coast zoo had earlier tweeted that its tiger Juma had "tagged" a keeper on the leg.

"Keeper has tooth puncture wound but is fine. Juma the tiger's good too," the zoo said.

Ten-year-old Juma is described on the zoo's website as "very laid-back".

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It is the third safety incident involving the animals at the zoo in the past year.

In November of last year, another tiger at the zoo, Charlie, mauled keeper Dave Styles in the neck during a show.

Another handler was knocked to the ground in a minor incident in the weeks after Mr Styles was attacked.

Today marks International Tiger Day, an annual celebration which aims to raise awareness for tiger conservation.