3-Year-Old Boy Attacked by Jaguars After Falling into Little Rock Zoo Exhibit
A 3-year-old boy has been listed in stable condition and after he fell 15 to 16 feet into an Arkansas zoo exhibit and was mauled by two jaguars.
The horrifying incident occurred Friday morning at the Little Rock Zoo when the little boy's grandfather reportedly put him on a ledge and he then fell over into the exhibit. The boy's grandfather and father threw items at the wild cats, including a camera bag, to get the cats away from him.
One zookeeper reported that a cat bit the boy's neck. Fortunately, zookeepers managed to get the cats to back away using a fire extinguisher, while another used a ladder to climb into the exhibit and pull the boy to safety.
"The child was then handed to the child's father and both were taken by golf cart to the Zoo's back gate entrance where the child was placed in an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital," Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore said in a statement, according to Fox News.
He was then rushed to the hospital and treated for a depressed skull fracture, minor puncture wounds and extensive scalp lacerations. However, the Arkansas Children's Hospital released a statement Saturday saying that he is "stable and is expected to improve," reports THV11.
The child was later reported to make a full recovery, however, Dan McFadden, the director of communications for Arkansas Children's Hospital, said that they would not disclose the child's name or additional information out of respect for the family.
"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. A full investigation into the incident is being conducted," said Moore in a statement.
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