Medical examiner: African dogs killed boy who fell into Pittsburgh zoo exhibit
PITTSBURGH The head of the Pittsburgh Zoo says a medical examiner has concluded that a toddler who fell into an African painted dog exhibit Sunday was killed by the animals, not by the fall.
Barbara Baker, CEO and president of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, said she received that information from the medical examiner's office Monday.
Officials say the child's mother had placed the three-year-old boy on a wooden rail above the exhibit. There is a net below the rail, but Baker says the boy bounced off it and into the enclosure 14 feet below.
She says the animals attacked the child so quickly that by the time a veterinarian and other zoo staffers arrived seconds later, they determined it would have been futile to try to rescue the child.
"From what I understand, what occurred at that scene until it was secured, it was horrific," Lt. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh police told CBS affiliate KDKA.
KDKA in reports the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium says it will be closed until further notice.
Witnesses and officials described a chaotic scene. When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zookeepers called off the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building. Three more eventually were drawn away from the boy, but the last dog wouldn't come into the building, and police had to shoot him, Baker told the station.
An African painted dog
/ KDKAThe dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, 2 to 2.5 feet high and 37 to 80 pounds, according to the zoo. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs, and painted wolves. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered.
Police and the Allegheny County medical examiner's office were investigating. Baker said the zoo, which has never had a visitor death, plans an internal investigation, and no decision has been made yet on the future of the exhibit.
The dogs normally live in a 1.5-acre exhibit called the Painted Dog Bush Camp that's part of a larger open area called the African Savanna, where elephants, lions and other animals can be seen.
In May, some of the dogs crawled under a fence and escaped into a part of the exhibit that's usually closed. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution.
Ten African painted dogs were born at the zoo in 2009, and their mother died of a ruptured uterus shortly after delivering the litter. Five of the pups survived. The mortality rate for painted pups is 50 percent, even when born in the wild to a healthy mother.
It was only the second litter to be hand-raised in captivity, along with one in the United Kingdom, zoo officials said at the time.
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In this case the mother failed to use good old fashioned COMMON SENSE.
First, everything I have heard says she placed the child on the railing. Where would this come from? The mother must have made her statements when they happened, and is now recanting and changing the story to make herself sound less stupid.
She was obviously close enough to the edge of the railing, where even if she didn't have her child on the railing (which I believe she did put the child on the railing), she should have held that child with all her might. COMMON SENSE.
When I take my kids to amusement parks, I hang onto them with all my might, so that they don't fly off rides and such. It's COMMON SENSE.
This mother failed parenting 101, in a bad way. Tragically, at her son's expense. Poor child. What a way to die.
I personally think the mother needs some jail time. Even though she'll be "castigated" her entire life, knowing she killed her son - she needs jail time as she put this poor child, in danger's way, and ultimately, he got EATEN ALIVE, due to her negligence and recklessness.
IDIOT mom. IDIOT.
I read the zoo did pass its evaluation as well. But it also stated: It was recommended that the railings add something ontop of them preventing people from standing, leaning, sitting or placing a child upon the railing. I read they chose to do renovations to the snack bar area instead of making any additions or changes to the railings in the zoo. How can you say the mother should face charges without knowing what happened? I do beleive the dogs behaved instinctively from what has been reported by the zoo, witnesses and authorities. I beleive the dog was shot to try to salvage what was left of the little boy's body. I am not saying the zoo is at fault - just saying this all could have been prevented with a sheet of plexiglass. Obviously the codes and inspections should be updated and reviewed/revised. Regardless if the zoo passed inspection - obviously there is room for improvement.
IncrediBALLY - would be a spelling error not a grammar error. There is no need to resort to name calling. I am sorry - I was unaware that you were there and saw first hand the events that took place. I find you INCREDIBLY ignorant. How can you pass judgement on someone you don't know? I am assumming you were NOT there. Hence, making speculations about an event that you know nothing about. Regardless, I am sure we can agree that if there was a piece of plexiglass covering the opening this tragedy could have been avoided. I do beleive this still enables the visitors to see the animals well and is an added measure the zoo could take to prevent something like this happening again.
That comment was a response for ERMASMU111 apparently a Canadian who was claimimg American parents are stupid. FYI - Glass Houses People????? Just because they used the word "ain't" I did not make the assumption that they were stupid or a bad parent. And certainly did NOT resort to name calling. Just wanted to point out how easy it is to make a mistake. Evidently I made a spelling error, which I was quickly called on. I have yet to meet a PERFECT person. I feel the mother is being condemed by many without absolute knowledge/facts about how this tragedy took place. I find peoples ignorance incredibly irritating.
SMARTS13 - doesnt seem like you are being very smart. I find your comment very childish!!!You know there are ways to get your point across without name calling - right???
Prayer and thoughts go to the family and friends of little Maddox
And to comment on the netting under the railing - I am asssumimg it was put in there because of all the stuff they were finding in the exhibit (sunglasses, cameras, phones etc.) If that stuff can so easily find its way in there (Drop) you would think they would put up some sort of plexiglass to prevent anything(random items, small children, even older children) from getting in the exhibit. Its a shame to think a piece of plexiglass could have eliminated this entire tradegy. I did research and the zoo railings were NOT up to the current codes. Regardless of posted signs - no posted signs - The visitors at the zoo should not have easy access to the exhibits (dens) Children will be children - i am a teacher could easily see one of my students goofing around with friends and ending up in a terrible situation. It is the job of the zoo to ensure and prevent access to these areas. Especially dangerous wild animals. I remember reading about a mentally challenged man who wanted to be at one with the tigers and somehow got access into their living exhibit and was attacked. There should be NO WAY A VISITOR should be able to get into these areas.
It is just sad that it takes a terrible event like this for Pittsburgh Zoo and zoos all over the country to reevaluate the exhibits and the safety of the exhibits. They need to make sure it is not only safe for the animals but the people visiting and the staff caring for them. Better view of wild animal or a safe secure exhibit sight.