Zoo Worker Killed by Bear

An 80-year-old worker at a shuttered Downstate petting zoo died Wednesday after being mauled by one of the zoo's black bears. Closed to the public a few years ago, Tom Phillipswent to feed the animals upong finding a black bear had escaped its cage. Trying to lure the animal back with a bag of dog food, the bear attacked and killed Phillips. The bear was destroyed by authorities. Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0602030236feb03,1,4678047.story?track=rss)

The bear pictured above was photographied at the Silver Springs Nature and Zoological park in Silver Springs, Florida. Silver Springs is home to the largest private bear exhibit in the US. Many bears, including 3 Kodiak bears, were circus rescues.