Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from March 8-10

A jaguar attack, Aquaman’s journey to Phoenix and a search for endangered ferrets.

Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.

Woman taking selfie attacked by jaguar at Wildlife World Zoo

A woman in her 30s was attacked by a jaguar at the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park on Saturday, according to Rural Metro Fire Department.

Crews who responded to the scene said the woman was attempting to take a selfie near the fence of the jaguar enclosure when the cat reached out and attacked one of the woman’s arms.

Wildlife World Zoo said in a tweet the woman reached over a barrier to get the photo.

The woman was transported to to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to Rural Metro Fire Department.

According to ABC 15 Arizona, the cat will not be euthanized because it the zoo believes the attack was not the animal’s fault.

‘Aquaman’ star Jason Momoa sweats out plane scare on way to Phoenix

For a king of the oceans, “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa sure is happy to be on solid ground, after a private plane bringing him to Phoenix had to make an emergency landing.

The actor posted on social media Wednesday that he, friends and crew were “safe and happy” in Palm Springs, California, where they made the stop believing the plane’s engine had caught fire.

Momoa, 39, eventually made his way to Phoenix, where he is building a custom motorcycle with Love Cycles near Grand Avenue and Fillmore Street.

The Palm Springs Firefighters Union posted on social media the emergency turned out to be a false alarm, but when the call came into the fire department that Momoa’s plane was in trouble, engineer Andy Meza told his crew, “Not on my watch boys…not on my watch.”

Arizona agency looking for volunteers to search for endangered ferrets

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is looking for volunteers to help it locate endangered ferrets outside Flagstaff.

The agency is holding two search sessions — March 21-25 and April 18-21 — in Aubrey Valley and Double O Ranch near Seligman.

Volunteers will use high-powered lights to spot the nocturnal black-footed ferrets between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The agency captured nine ferrets last year with the help of 140 volunteers, who put in 1,500 hours of search time, according to a press release.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are only about 300 black-footed ferrets currently living in North America.

Downtown Gilbert’s newest star is a giant gopher atop a snack shack

Move over, water tower, downtown Gilbert has a new icon.

A giant gopher in a hat, staring out over Gilbert Road with illuminated eyes, was installed this week atop a new snack shack.

The eatery, called Topo, is expected to open sometime next week.

The gopher’s arrival, and subsequent announcements on social media, ended the months-long mystery of what was being built outside Joe’s Real BBQ.

Topo will offer chicken or pork burritos, elote (Mexican street corn), vanilla or prickly pear soft-serve ice cream and bottled Mexi Coke and Topo Chico beverages.

Park West Shopping Center in Peoria to add 5 new eateries

A Peoria mall announced Wednesday that it will add five new eateries to its list of more than 25 tenants as part of a $4 million renovation.

Park West Shopping Center, near the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway and Northern Avenue, said the new dining spots — Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market, Jalapeno Inferno and Pita Jungle — are coming soon.

Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers opened in the center this year, and Forever 21, Koi Poke, Orange Theory Fitness and Creamistry are also expected to open soon.

Other improvements from the renovation plan include an agave-shaped splash pad in the center’s plaza, misters, greenery along walkways and new signs on the freeway.

The shopping center plans to hold a grand reopening this fall.

Related

1 dead, 1 critically hurt after crash involving motorcycle in GilbertInvestigators searching for suspect in deadly Phoenix hit-and-run incident1 hospitalized after being stung more than 100 times by bees at home in GoodyearDowntown Phoenix YMCA to close; demolition request surfacesTempe’s Filthy Animal named best new restaurant in US by YelpSnowbowl gets 2 inches of early-season snow