Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Tot dies after falling into dog pit at zoo

Unclear if mauling or fall led to death

By: Kevin Begos

Posted: 11/5/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

A pack of African painted dogs walks together at a wildlife facility in Langley, B.C. (LES BAZSO / POSTMEDIA NEWS ARCHIVES)

PITTSBURGH — A two-year-old boy visiting the Pittsburgh zoo was killed Sunday morning when he fell off a railing his mother had put him on top of to view a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the child and mauled him, police said.

It was not clear whether the boy died from the fall into the wild dog exhibit area or from the attack, said Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

"It was very horrific," said Lt. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh police, who added that the dogs attacked "immediately" after the boy fell at about 11:45 a.m. Zoo officials at first estimated the boy fell 4½ metres, but police said it was 3½. It was not clear which is correct.

When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zookeepers called off some of the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building. Three more eventually were drawn away from the child, but the last dog was aggressive and police had to shoot the animal, officials say.

The zoo was immediately closed and it was not clear when it would be reopened, authorities said. Authorities didn’t immediately release the name of the boy or his mother, but say she is 34 years old and lives in Pleasant Hills, just outside Pittsburgh.

The boy’s father arrived on the scene soon after the accident, police said.

The dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, 50 to 75 centimetres 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.

The dogs hunt in packs in the wild, and Baker said they "were in pack mentality" during the attack.

The dogs normally live in a half-hectare 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. Visitors walk onto a deck that is glassed on the sides, but open in front where the railing is located. Visitors can look out at the dogs below.

Zoo officials said there is also a mesh barrier beyond the railing, but Kraus said it was designed to catch small objects such as cameras, and not humans.

Steve Feldman, a spokesman for the American Zoo Association, said no one he’s spoken to can recall any deaths of children at an accredited zoo over the last 40 years or more. Feldman said the Pittsburgh zoo successfully completed its fiveyear review in September, which means it meets or exceeds all safety standards.

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.

— The Associated Press

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.