Woman attacked by two tigers at California animal sanctuary

A woman was seriously injured when she got in between two fighting tigers at a California animal sanctuary she founded.

The Los Angeles Times reported Patty Perry suffered head lacerations and puncture wounds on her neck at the Wildlife Environmental Conservation Inc. sanctuary in Moorpark, Southern California on Saturday.

Members of the Ventura County Fire Department were in attendance and aided Perry during an event being held to thank supporters and donors to the conservation group.

Authorities say Perry was transported to a hospital and remained there yesterday afternoon.

Her friend Michael Bradbury says the tigers were playing with Perry inside a cage when a Bengal tiger wrapped its paws around her legs and she fell, and then the second tiger jumped on her.

Bradbury says Perry regularly interacts with the tigers she has raised since they were cubs and they have never previously attacked her.

Wildlife and Environmental Conservation is a non-profit organisation founded more than a decade ago to educate the public about environmental conservation.

The group says the Moorpark facility has about 50 animals including tigers, leopards, birds of prey, and zebras.