Update: Child Mauled to Death by African Painted Dogs at Pittsburgh Zoo

[icheerthebull]

Officials of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium confirmed this afternoon that a little boy was mauled to death today after falling into the African painted dog exhibit.

The incident occurred at 11:48 a.m. at the Highland Park complex, according to emergency dispatch supervisor. The zoo was shut down within a half-hour of the incident and will remain closed indefinitely.

A Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed one of the 11 dogs in the exhibit.

Zoo President and Chief Executive Officer Barbara Baker said the child, who was about 3 years old, was on an outing with his mother when he fell over a railing and off of a mesh barrier where the painted dogs were on display.

A news release distributed by zoo officials said keepers were able to quickly clear seven of the 11 dogs from the exhibit. Though darts were shot into the exhibit in an effort to scare the dogs away from the child, the news release indicated that "unfortunately, the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding."

Keepers attempted to enter the yard but were unable to reach the child, the release said.

Pittsburgh police officers and keepers attempted to lure the dogs away but one "aggressive" dog was shot and killed by an officer. Ms. Baker commended the officer, noting the dog would not move away from the child.

She said the zoo initially declared a "code blue," meaning an accident involving a human had occurred. That was followed with a "code red," meaning that there was a serious human emergency in play.

The incident is under investigation by police and the zoo.

Ms. Baker said no decision has been made about the future of the exhibit.

The African painted dog exhibit debuted after the October 2009 birth of the pups. A surrogate mutt was drafted into service for the nine pups after their natural mother died of a ruptured uterus. In the spring of this year, nine of the 11 painted dogs escaped a section of their enclosure causing a brief shutdown of the zoo.

Ms. Baker said at that time on May 5 that the dogs got into a 1.5-acre "backup yard" not visible to the public, but the dogs were not out of their exhibit.

African painted dogs are an endangered species.

In September, the zoo announced that it had again been accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums after a review of its animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety.

AZA is a nonprofit organization with a team of professionals that inspect and review each zoo or aquarium seeking accreditation. Currently 224 facilities have been recognized and approved by the organization. The Pittsburgh zoo has been recognized by AZA since 1986.

[Megamel29]

That's just sad. Did his mom have him sitting on the railing?

[kellyhound]

stupid mom

[Faline]

[Oswald2001]

His mother killed him.

No cure for stupid.

I wonder if they tested her for drugs and alcohol.

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by icheerthebull

I don't know why parents think it's cute to take pictures of their babies with wild animals.

Dumb ass! Who stands a 2 or 3 year old baby on the rail above a wild animal and prays nothing happens?

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by Megamel29

That's just sad. Did his mom have him sitting on the railing?

The article I read said he was standing. Either way, he was a baby.

What a dumb ass!

[Oswald2001]

Usually, there is a subconscious motivation involved.

[michmi]

The mother was 34 years old. Certainly old enough to know better, but obviously stupid.

[Wolf]

Not smart to put your child in harms way by putting it above a pack of wild dogs. I hope they investigate this thoroughly.