Three year old dropped by mother to death at Zoo (home, buy)

[eschaton]

Someone I know on Facebook has friends who work at the zoo. While he doesn't know anything about whether the incident was the fault of the parent or not, apparently there was a large crowd at the time of the incident, and it was horrifically gruesome - the child was partially consumed by the dogs, not merely mauled to death, before they could disperse the dogs.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by eschaton

and it was horrifically gruesome - the child was partially consumed by the dogs, not merely mauled to death, before they could disperse the dogs.

Thanks for this very unnecessary---and traumatizing---imagery.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Tragic event indeed, but no need to over react to it either - millions have visited the attraction without incident, no need to change things because 1 moron visits.

They probably have to "idiot proof" the exhibits though. If not for safety in an accidental fall or holding a hand out too far, then to protect the Zoo from lawsuits. A secondary barrier is needed for both animals AND humans. If a person gets past the second barrier then it was likely no accident.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

It sounded like the zookeepers wanted to reach the kid but one dog wouldn't back off.

There was another incident with the dogs escaping their enclosure but none got out to the public.

Zoo closes after endangered dogs crawl under fence - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

That's not good. The first post gazette article made mention of this, but I was merely scanning the article at the end and didn't realize how serious it could have been.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

They probably have to "idiot proof" the exhibits though. If not for safety in an accidental fall or holding a hand out too far, then to protect the Zoo from lawsuits. A secondary barrier is needed for both animals AND humans. If a person gets past the second barrier then it was likely no accident.

The second barrier isn't to prevent humans from getting into the exhibit. It's simply a barrier to prevent the animals from getting to the people. I know this simply because I've been to the exhibit. The net isn't to catch people. It's there to prevent the dogs from climbing out of the exhibit. The only thing to keep people from getting in is a normal wooden deck railing, which can be easily climbed over.

[SteelCityRising]

CNN has now picked up this story:

African painted dogs kill young boy at Pittsburgh Zoo – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Hopes

The second barrier isn't to prevent humans from getting into the exhibit. It's simply a barrier to prevent the animals from getting to the people. I know this simply because I've been to the exhibit. The net isn't to catch people. It's there to prevent the dogs from climbing out of the exhibit. The only thing to keep people from getting in is a normal wooden deck railing, which can be easily climbed over.

No, I'm saying they NEED a second barrier to prevent humans from getting into the exhibit.

[UKyank]

Why not surround the entire zoo with plexiglass

[SteelCityRising]

The local news just reported the boy was actually two, and he was from Pleasant Hills. As was speculated his mother was holding him over the railing and accidentally dropped him to his death. Both parents received medical treatment for trauma. It's such a tragedy.

[Pitts10yrs]

It reminds me of the incident at Sea World a few years back, with the Killer Whale. Though it involved the trainer, we sometimes forget how dangerous these animals can be, and it is not their fault. They were not meant to live in captivity. But, it also makes me wonder, a four foot fence? I hope the zoo has good insurance. Sorry if you are gonna allow humans that close to wild animals you better make it dummy proof.