Scary accident at our local zoo.

[Pappy]

MELBOURNE, Fla. - A toddler fell into the rhinoceros exhibit at Melbourne's Brevard Zoo on New Year's Day, Brevard County Fire Rescue said.
Shortly before 12:15 p.m., the girl, who is about 2 years old, was taken to a hospital under a trauma alert status, firefighters said.
They said the child's mother was also taken to a hospital to be treated for an arm injury.

Waiting to hear any updates on this. I believe the child will be okay from what I hear.

 

[hollydolly]

I wondered how this could happen Pappy, then I saw the enclosure. It's clear there's enough room for a child to squeeze through.. so I believe the Zoo is at fault here.... , although the parents do have to share some blame , because they must have seen this , and should have kept a tight hold of their child...

See the Video here...

https://www.wftv.com/video?videoId=897686337&videoVersion=1.0

 

[Pappy]

I agree Holly. Those slats are two wide. I have been there but never paid much attention to the railing. My favorite spot is where you walk up a flight of stairs and feed the giraffes. It is a beautiful zoo and we are lucky to have it.

 

[Pappy]

A news flash just popped up and the child is doing fine.

 

[RadishRose]

A news flash just popped up and the child is doing fine.

Oh, thank God!

 

[Pappy]

Here’s the pen they are allowed to visit. A sign is posted, no under 3 is allowed in the area. I can see where a small child could fit through those bars.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Glad the child is okay, I agree the parents should have had more supervision over their 2 year old toddler, not the first time a young child entered a wild animal's area at a zoo, etc.

 

[rgp]

I'm just glad they didn't shoot the Rhino.

 

[Butterfly]

So why did the parents take the child (identified as about 2 years old) into that area when there is a sign saying no children under 3?? Sorry to be an old hardass again, but if the zoo puts up a sign that says no children under 3 and you take your 2 year old in anyway and the child gets hurt, just how much of the fault rightfully belongs to the zoo??

 

[SeaBreeze]

So why did the parents take the child (identified as about 2 years old) into that area when there is a sign saying no children under 3?? Sorry to be an old hardass again, but if the zoo puts up a sign that says no children under 3 and you take your 2 year old in anyway and the child gets hurt, just how much of the fault rightfully belongs to the zoo??

Good point Butterfly! Of course any parent with common sense wouldn't even need a sign to take precautions with a baby like that, IMO.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

I was thinking the same thing. Glad the child is ok though.

I'm just glad they didn't shoot the Rhino.

 

[rgp]

So why did the parents take the child (identified as about 2 years old) into that area when there is a sign saying no children under 3?? Sorry to be an old hardass again, but if the zoo puts up a sign that says no children under 3 and you take your 2 year old in anyway and the child gets hurt, just how much of the fault rightfully belongs to the zoo??

IMO?.....None