Washington University St. Louis Baby Bear Cub Spared Euthanization: Rabies Scare After 18 Bites During Final Exams Entertainment
A two-month-old bear cub that bit over a dozen college students in Missouri poses no rabies threat and won't be killed.
The baby bear, who was named Boo Boo, was brought to Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday by a petting zoo as a form of entertainment for students taking final exams. However, 18 students reported that Boo Boo bit them hard enough to break their skin, which raised concerns about a rabies scare, reports Reuters.
The college originally said that the cub would have to be euthanized in order to test it for the disease. However, on Friday, school officials announced that the cub does not have rabies, and its life will be spared.
"We are very pleased that this very unfortunate situation has come to the best possible conclusion for everyone involved -- our students, our community and the bear cub," said the university spokeswoman Susan Killenberg McGinn in a statement released Friday afternoon.
Officials also said that students will not need to be treated. If the bear had tested positive for rabies however, then students would have been advised to get vaccinated for the life-threatening viral disease.
Bringing animals from the local petting zoo to the private university in St. Louis is a tradition that has been going on for years during exam time. However, school administrators say that Boo Boo was included this year without the school's knowledge. In addition, the petting's zoo website doesn't have him listed among its "animal friends," reports Gawker.
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