ROYAL OAK, May 25, 2008 (AP): An animal handler at the Detroit Zoo has received stitches after being scratched and bitten by a lioness.

The Detroit Free Press reports the attack happened shortly after Saturday's 5 p.m. public closing time at the zoo in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

Zoo spokeswoman Patricia Mills Janeway says Brett Kipley, who in his 20s, received stitches at a hospital.

The newspaper says Kipley used pepper spray to fend off the animal during the attack.

The 16-year-old lioness named Katie has been at the zoo for 15 years, and usually isn't in close contact with her keepers.

The zoo plans to investigate the attack.

Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com