It was a rough start to the Memorial Day weekend in Michiana.

In South Bend, a Potawatomi Zoo worker was attacked Saturday by one of the zoo's leopards.

The zookeeper, Jeri Ellis, was taken to a local hospital for care, but was able to return home Sunday.

The attack happened about 11:30 a.m. in the leopard’s holding area.

The zoo's director says the zookeeper was doing her daily routine when the leopard attacked.

“It's sort of the nature of the business, as you said. We work with wild animals, and that potential is always there, and people really need to be careful when they are dealing with animals,” Terry DeRosa explained. “Unfortunately, something happened today.”

The director admits he is not sure why the animal was with the keeper in the holding area, but stresses that there was never any risk to anyone visiting the zoo.