Toddler falls into jaguar pit at Arkansas Zoo

Toddler falls into jaguar pit at Arkansas Zoo 

(Source photo: NBC News)

 11-10-2014  Los Angeles Times

Toddler falls into jaguar cage at zoo and is saved by zoo workers

Child who falls into jaguar exhibit is saved by quick-thinking zoo workers

Young boy suffers fractured skull, bite wounds after falling into jaguar exhibit at Arkansas zoo

A toddler who fell into a jaguar pit at an Arkansas zoo Friday morning escaped with non-life threatening injuries after staff members used fire extinguishers to keep the animal at bay, police said.
Sgt. James Sloan, a spokesman for the Little Rock Police Department, told the Los Angeles Times that the child plummeted into the exhibit at the Little Rock Zoo at about 10:45 a.m.

The child slipped under the railing while his father was trying to take pictures of the animals, and fell roughly 16 feet to the ground, according to a police report.

A yellow jaguar and a black jaguar began to circle the boy, causing a panicked scene as several staff members went into the pit after the child and the boy's relatives threw items at the cats.

One of the cats placed its mouth around the neck of the child, who also suffered a bite wound to the foot, according to the police report. Several of the boy's family members and other onlookers also threw a hose and a camera bag at the animals, while staff members raced into the pit with fire extinguishers, according to the police report.

Eventually, staff members used a ladder to rescue the child, according to the report.
Sloan told The Times that staff members have been trained to spray animals with fire extinguishers if a visitor enters an exhibit. Calls to the zoo seeking comment were not returned.

The boy was taken to an area hospital and treated for a skull fracture and "minor puncture wounds," according to the police report.


CNN reports:

"The child's condition is critical," said Dan McFadden, director of communications for the hospital. "We respect the wishes of the child's guardian who asked that the child's name and any additional information not be shared at this time."

Though doctors say the wounds are not life-threatening, the toddler had an extensive scalp laceration, a depressed skull fracture and minor puncture wounds, according to the police report.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the child and the family. The safety of our citizens is of paramount value and our staff followed training procedures on rescuing the child and were able to respond quickly and efficiently and work with emergency personnel, said Bruce Moore, Little Rock city manager, in a statement.

City officials said a full investigation into the incident is being conducted.