I was jumped by a 275-pound on assignment in Oklahoma while working on “The Tiger Next Door," a story on captive tigers in the U.S. for the December issue.
, an 18-month-old lion-tiger mix was discarded after he grew too big and dangerous for cub-petting and photo ops at Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park.
He was adopted by Safari Sanctuary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where he's lived inside a house and is walked around the property on a leash like a pet.
He was still young and playful—and charged me when I was squatting to photograph him.
I was unhurt.