In Arkansas last Friday, a 3-year old toddler fell into a cat pit feet-first while visiting the zoo. After the incident, it didn't take long for police to arrive at the scene considering yells for help were very alerting. The father told the police that he was leaning over the rail to take a picture of the cats, but his feet slipped. The police claim that the child fell about 15 feet into the pit. While he was in the pit, the child got attacked by two jaguars in which one had bit some clothing off and the other bit the foot area. A zookeeper immediately climbed down a ladder to retrieve the responsive child. He was rushed to a children's hospital in Arkansas and there they discovered the little boy's wounds were not fatal.
This horrible story just blows my mind because there could have been so many different things that could have prevented this accident. For one, the toddler was leaning over the railing and the father should have realized that this could be a hazardous situation, especially for a young child who doesn't know any better or doesn't even know that it is dangerous. Also, the toddler should have been watched at all times and should have been kept close by a parent and by close I mean kept in physical contact whether it's just holding hands or carrying the child. It's a miracle the child wasn't tore to shreds by the Jaguars but the zoo should have done a better job at keeping a tighter and more enclosed railing so things like this shouldn't happen.
Poor kid! It's so sad that this happened, but I'm glad the wounds weren't fatal! I also agree with you that they should build better fencing/railing around the pit. Maybe this story will spark some improvements.
ReplyDeleteWow... I'm going to agree with Iris here, this should spark some changes, as this isn't the only story I've heard of children falling into zoo areas.
ReplyDelete- Hannah Kalan 6th period
I don't understand why you wouldn't be holding a child so young when there is open railing like that. That's terrifying
ReplyDelete-Kennedi Mayes