The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Zoo The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Zoo
Showing posts with label Zoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zoo. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Chimpanzee Annoyed by a Drone Zipping by Her, Used a Tree Branch to Knock it to the Ground


A zoo in the Netherlands posted a YouTube video that showed how a chimpanzee -- annoyed at the drone zipping by her -- used a tree branch to knock it to the ground.

Once the intelligent apes discovered the spying plane ... they immediately armed themselves with long sticks..

In the video, a female chimp sitting on a tree limb lunges forward as the drone files by. Her first swing, a powerful downward stroke, misses. But she nails the copter with a backstroke.

The drone spins out of control and comes crashing down. Then an ape, maybe the same one, runs over and inspects the GoPro camera underneath the drone.

The zoo said the drone was destroyed.

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

People With Disabilities from the Misercordia Heart of Mercy House, Are Invited to Watch as Staff At the Brookfield Zoo Give a 450 Pound Lion a Check Up


Brookfield, IL - In a small but state-of-the-art medical room at Brookfield Zoo, this 450-pound lion is about as dangerous as a sleeping house cat. Doctors put Zenda under to give him a good once-over and give people a chance to learn about the animal and conservation.

“We look at everything,” said Dr. Michael Adkesson with the Brookfield Zoo. “So we look at him from head to toe on a physical exam, we draw blood for various testing, to look at his organ function. We do a full set of X-rays on him, ultrasound, really everything we can do we take care of him while we got him here.

In addition to making sure the 8-year-old is in good physical shape, the Brookfield Zoo invited a few people over from the Misercordia Heart of Mercy House. It’s a facility that helps people with mental and physical disabilities, and on this day, they are learning about the lion and conservation.

Before they got comfortable shaking hands with the sleeping giant, they admit they were more than just a little nervous.

But within minutes and a few reassuring words from the zoo’s staff, their fear quickly transformed into just plain fun.

“For us to able to share that and showcase the care we provide the animals, as well as the conservation messages behind that, with some really amazing people today, a very neat opportunity,” Adkesson said.

While they may not remember everything they learned about the lion this day, you can bet no one will forget the time they got to try and make the “king of the jungle” purr.

The Brookfield Zoo medical staff says they put Zenda and the other lion under every two years for their checkup and they say he’s in really great shape.










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Thursday, March 26, 2015

Washington, DC - Meet Mayni and Muniri, The Two Andean Bear Cubs at the National Zoo


On Thursday morning as zoo officials announced the bears’ names, they played in their yard. The zoo said in a Twitter message that they “just heard their first helicopter fly overhead and headed to Mom for comfort.”

After the public voted, the two Andean bear cubs were named, Mayni and Muniri

Mayni is a moniker that means “unique” in the Aymara language. Muniri means “loving” in the Quechua language. The names are meant to reflect the cultural significance of the indigenous peoples of the Andes region, to which the bears are native.

The 19-week-old cubs will go on display to the public, at 10:00 a.m.,  Saturday, Marcg 28th, weather permitting. The brother bears were much celebrated when they were born in November.

Telling the two black balls of fur apart is a bit tough, but zoo officials said the two cubs have distinctive facial markings. Muniri has a slightly longer light brown line in between his eyes; Mayni does not have such a pronounced line.

They definitely have different personalities. Zoo officials have said Mayni is a bit more rambunctious and “seems to need Mom’s attention a bit more than his brother.” His brother, Muniri, is described as playful and “likes to wrestle but is more laid back.”

Zoo officials said that now that the bears have been named, it will help staff members as they teach them certain behaviors like opening their mouth, showing their paws, getting up on a bench and lying down. These learned behaviors are necessary, zoo officials said, to help staff give them vaccinations and care for their health.

The cubs are trained one-on-one, and zoo keepers will call the cubs by their respective names into different enclosures, officials said. Every time a bear does one of its new, learned behaviors, the keepers will use positive reinforcement and call them by name. And they’ll get a treat — either grapes or peanuts, which are their favorites.




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Monday, March 16, 2015

Washington, DC - The Smithsonian's National Zoo: Help Name Our Andean Bear Brothers - Voting Ends March 22


The Smithsonian's National Zoo is asking for your help in namimg two of its newest additions. In November, the Zoo's eight-year-old Andean bear Billie Jean gave birth to two cubs and now the Zoo is crowdsourcing naming of the bear brothers.

The first cub, which the Zoo describes as "rambunctious and seems to need Mom's attention a bit more than his brother," has three options to vote for: Larusiri (lah-roo-SEE-ree), which means "giggly;" Mayni (MY-nee), which means "unique;" and Kusisqa (coo-SEES-kah), which means "happy." The cub's brother is described as "playful and likes to wrestle but is more laid back than cub #1" has the following name choices you can vote for: Tusuq (too-SOOK), which means "dancer;" Muniri (moo-NEE-ree), which means "loving;" and Wayna (WHY-nah): means "young."

If you're curious about the origins of the names, they're Quechua and Aymara, which are the languages of the indigenous communities in the Andes, where the bears originate. According to folklore, Andean bears were "said to protect pilgrims, especially musicians and dancers, during their pilgrimage to Q'oylluriti (a festival held high in the Andes mountains)."

The Zoo describes Andean bears as a "loving and happy, seeking harmony and balance in nature," which each of the name suggestions represents. Voting ends on March 22 and the winning names will be announced on March 26.

To vote, click HERE.






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Sunday, March 15, 2015

Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe Around Animals


Children are naturally drawn to animals. In order to help make "man's best friend" your child's best friend, it is important to take into account the guidelines for the safety of your child around animals.

Having a pet can be a very positive and rewarding experience for a child. Children learn responsibility and compassion through caring for a pet, and gain a wonderful companion as well.

As a parent, you must be the one to decide the appropriate time to introduce a pet to the family based on your child's age, behavior, maturity, and interest.

In making such a decision you will need to determine how much of the animal's care you expect the child to be responsible for and/or how much you intend to be responsible for.

Recognizing your pets moods.
The most important lesson to teach your children is to always treat animals gently and with kindness. Animals that are in pain, are afraid, or feel threatened are most likely to bite or scratch to protect themselves.

Animals, like humans, have times they just want to be left alone. Help your child learn how to recognize your pets mood, and to give him/her some space when they would rather be left alone.

To ensure animal safety for kids teach your child never to pull an animal's ear, tail, or feet when playing and to not wrestle roughly with animals. Children should never restrain animals against their will.

Your pet is a family member!
Family pets adjust to children best when they are treated as part of the family. Dogs should never be left outdoors chained up - dogs that are permanently chained up are more aggressive and more likely to bite.

Spay or neuter your pets; pets that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to bite than pets that have not been "fixed." Consider enrolling your dog in basic obedience classes - even a well-behaved dog can benefit from such instruction and it is a great bonding experience between pet and owner.

Keep your pet's immunizations, preventative meds (heartworm), flea and tick treatment and check-ups current. It's to the benefit of animal safety for kids to guard against disease.

Use a microchip and/or tag with up to date contact information so if your pet is ever lost, the odds of being found and returned home safely are greatly increased.

Animal safety tips for kids


  • Avoid the face and head area when petting dogs and cats. Stroke along the neck, back, and sides. Cats, unlike dogs, may bite or scratch when rubbed on the belly.
  • Leave animals alone when eating, sleeping, chewing on a toy, or caring for its babies.
  • Pay attention to warning signs - an animal that is growling or hissing wants to be left alone!
  • Explain to your child that animals may be startled by loud, high-pitched screams or noises and sudden movements.
  • Never approach an animal you do not know. Animals in vehicles and yards may behave aggressive and territorial and are likely to bite. Always ask permission from an animal's owner before approaching a friend, neighbor, or acquaintance's animal - even if you have played with the animal in the past.
  • Never approach an animal that appears injured or sick.
  • Never approach stray animals.
  • Teach your child not to run when approached by a strange dog. Running may provoke the dog to chase and attack. Teach your child to act like a "tree" by standing still and staring straight ahead until the dog leaves or acting like a "rock" if sitting or knocked to the ground by curling up in a ball keeping his/her hands over his/her ears. If a dog attacks teach your child to throw something like a backpack or coat for the dog to bite.
  • If your child is responsible for cleaning animal cages, litter boxes, or cleaning up the yard after a dog have him/her wear rubber gloves and always wash his/her hands when done.
  • Keep food dishes and litter boxes out of reach of babies and toddlers.

Introducing your new baby to pets.
On the other hand, if in your particular situation you already have a dog or cat and are planning to introduce your new baby to the household, the following are some helpful tips to ensure animal safety for kids as well as a smooth transition period.



  • Even before the baby arrives it is a good idea to let your pet smell blankets or clothing with baby powder or oil on them so that the pet becomes accustomed to the new smells. Likewise it is a good idea to play recordings of a baby crying several times and to run baby equipment, such as the swing, so that that pet becomes accustomed to the new sounds that the baby will bring to the home.
  • It is a good idea to put a baby gate in the doorway to the baby's room to keep dogs out of the room, rather than closing the door. That way the dog can still keep family members in sight and will not feel as isolated.
  • Never force interaction between your pet and the baby which could lead to anxiety or injury - you want your pet to view the interaction positively.
  • Introduce the new baby slowly to dogs or cats.
  • Consider taking your dog to obedience classes
  • Do not allow pets to sleep with the baby
  • Cats don't usually display jealousy towards a new baby, but may be attracted to the warmth of the baby's bed or bassinette.
  • Life can be hectic with a newborn, but don't forget your pet. They will still need your time and attention to.

Your childs health and pets
Children under the age of five are more likely to contract diseases from animals than most other people.

This is largely due to that fact that young children are less likely to wash hands well and are more likely to put their hands or other potentially dirty objects in their mouths.

Children under the age of five should never be unsupervised when interacting with animals, their hands should be washed after contact with animals, and they should not be allowed to kiss pets.

Due to the increased risk of disease from certain animals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically recommend that infants and children under the age of five should avoid contact with the following animals: reptiles, amphibians, baby chicks, ducklings, and petting zoo animals.


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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Boris the Polar Bear Has 3 Teeth Pulled at Washington Zoo


Tacoma, Wash. (AP) - Boris the 29-year-old polar bear is eating only soft foods for a while after having surgery to remove three broken or decayed teeth at a Washington state zoo.

The 880-pound bear who lives at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, didn't have to sit in a dentist's chair for the procedure. Boris sprawled out on a table as veterinarians and support staff extracted his problem teeth Friday.

To read more on this story, click here: Boris the Polar Bear Has 3 Teeth Pulled at Washington Zoo FOLLOW US!
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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Turning Tables, Chile Zoo Rescues Animals, Cages Visitors


Rancagua (Chile) (AFP) - As the enormous lion prowls atop the roof of the safari vehicle, his pale pink tongue licking out from his massive jaws, delighted passengers snap pictures and reach out to touch him.

This apparent violation of the number-one rule at most zoos -- don't pet the animals -- is encouraged at Parque Safari in Chile, a sanctuary for mistreated circus animals that turns the traditional zoo-going experience on its head.

To read more on this story, click here: Turning Tables, Chile Zoo Rescues Animals, Cages Visitors

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Saturday, February 7, 2015

Watch Chimps Speak With Scottish Accents


Researchers have always known chimpanzees were smart, adaptable creatures, but it now appears they’re even picking up new accents.

After growing up in the Netherlands, nine chimpanzees who moved to the Edingburgh Zoo in Scotland five years ago are now reportedly sporting Scottish accents, apparently learned from their new Scottish zoo-mates.

To read more on this story, click here: Watch Chimps Speak With Scottish Accents
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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Alligator Found At San Fernando Valley Home Had Lived There 37 Years


An 8-foot-long alligator has been living in the backyard of a San Fernando Valley home for about 40 years, animal control officials said Wednesday.

Officers from the Los Angeles Animal Services Department found the alligator Monday inside a wooden crate at the home in the 13200 block of Sylvan Street in Van Nuys, said department Cmdr. Mark Salazar. The alligator was then taken to the Los Angeles Zoo.


To read more on this story, click here: Alligator Found At San Fernando Valley Home Had Lived There 37 Years FOLLOW US!
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Saturday, November 15, 2014

Two Andean Bear Cubs Born at the National Zoo


Picture of Andean bear cub
An Andean bear has given birth to two cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Zoo officials say the mama bear, 8-year-old Billie Jean, gave birth to the baby bears this week. Their father is a 21-year-old bear named Cisco.

Zookeepers are monitoring the new family via closed-circuit cameras to give them their space. That's so Billie Jean can quietly nurse and bond with her young.

Zookeepers say the cubs are just one of four Andean bear litters born in North America in nine years. Andean bears are considered a vulnerable species, with an estimated 2,000 left in the wild. FOLLOW US!
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Friday, November 7, 2014

Iranian Dog Owners Face 74 Lashes if They Take Their Dog For A Walk


Dog owners could be arrested and subjected to 74 lashes if they are caught taking their pet for a walk or keeping one in their home under a proposed Iranian law.

A bill presented by 32 members of the Iranian Parliament claimed that owning a dog as a pet harms the country's Islamic culture because of their 'uncleanliness'.

Violators could be arrested if they are caught accompanying their pet in public and forced to pay a fine of up to 100 million rials, around £2,243, or RECEIVE 74 lashes.

To read more on this story, click here: Iranian Dog Owners Face 74 Lashes if They Take Their Dog For A Walk FOLLOW US!
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Monday, October 27, 2014

How This Baby Orphaned Bat Reacts To Being Loved Will Steal Your Heart - It’s Priceless!


Lil’ Drac is a little orphaned short-tailed bat. This little baby bat was very lucky as it got rescued by Weatherford, Texas Bat World Sanctuary. It is a no-profit organization dedicated towards the preservation of hundreds of bats.

Bat World Sanctuary offers rehabilitation and release programs and even lifelong sanctuary programs to non releasable bats. Bat population is in a rapid decline. More than half of the native bats of USA are endangered. Watch this man giving a loving care to this baby bat.


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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Gorilla Scares Children at Zoo With Routine


A gorilla at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, likes to give his onlookers a thrill. As seen on this video, he waits motionless then lurches toward the viewing enclosure and gives it a bang. Shrieks -- and cheers -- ensue.

According to the person who filmed this, it’s a part of his regular routine. “The cool part is that he waits for someone to enter the barrier and a crowd before doing this routine,” he told Storyful.



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Friday, October 24, 2014

Animals From Around the World Find a Sanctuary in Central Maine


MOUNT VERNON, MAINE — It's almost 2:30 p.m., and two large black bears are ready for an afternoon snack. As usual, Bob Miner has brought them some yummy peanut M&Ms.

The bears are glad to see him – so glad in fact, they're not fussy about how Mr. Miner likes to feed them: from his lips.


To read more on this story, click here: Animals From Around the World Find a Sanctuary in Central Maine









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Like a Virgin: Python Births 6 Sans Mate


LOUISVILLE -- Who needs males?

Not the world's largest snakes, and the Louisville Zoo has the reticulated python to prove it.

Zoo officials said Thursday that one of their female reticulated pythons, Thelma, gave birth to six baby pythons without the aid of a male python. She shared exhibit space only with another female python, Louise.

To read more on this story, click here: Like a Virgin: Python Births 6 Sans Mate
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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Cute Alert! Clingy Pandas Don't Want to Take Their Medicine


How do pandas take medicine? Apparently with a great deal of effort from the zookeeper. Not only because they refuse to open their mouth, but also because it’s hard to be heavy handed in the face of such adorableness.













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Sunday, October 12, 2014

Child Stable After Fall Into Jaguar Exhibit At Zoo


Little Rock, Ark. — A 3-year-old who fell into the jaguar exhibit at the Little Rock Zoo was in stable condition Saturday and "is expected to improve," officials say.

The boy was being treated at Arkansas Children's Hospital for extensive scalp lacerations, a depressed skull fracture, and minor puncture wounds.

Lt. Sidney Allen of the Little Rock Police Department said Friday it was not known whether the puncture wounds came from the fall or one of the animals in the exhibit. Doctors said the wounds were not life-threatening.

Officials did not release the name of the child.

"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," hospital spokesman Dan McFadden said.

According to the police report, the child fell approximately 15-16 feet into a cat exhibit at the zoo Friday morning.

A primate zookeeper who called emergency services told police that she saw one of the jaguars with its mouth around the little boy's neck.

The child's father told police that he ran to get help and returned to throw items at the cats to keep them at bay — one ran off and didn't return while other circled back and reportedly bit the child on the back of the neck. The report indicated that the father threw something else at the cat and got it to release the child.

Shortly afterward, more zoo workers arrived. The report says that one worker arrived with a fire extinguisher to keep the animals away while another climbed into the exhibit with a ladder to get the child out.

According to Captain Weaver with the Little Rock Fire Department, the boy was reportedly out of the enclosure by the time the fire department arrived.







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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Panda May Have Faked Pregnancy for More Buns, Bamboo


A giant panda slated to be the star of the first-ever live broadcast of the birth of panda cubs has lost the role -- after it was discovered the bear is not pregnant after all, Chinese state media reported.

Not only was it a phantom pregnancy, but zookeepers suspect the panda, Ai Hin, may have been faking it to improve her quality of life, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding told Xinhua on Monday.

Ai Hin, age 6, had shown signs of pregnancy, including a change in appetite, moving less and an increase in progestational hormone in July, according to Xinhua.

But after almost two months, she began acting normally again, zookeepers said.

Experts say pandas sometimes carry on the behaviors associated with early pregnancy after noticing that they get preferential treatment, the news agency reported.

"After showing prenatal signs, the 'mothers-to-be' are moved into single rooms with air conditioning and around-the-clock care," Wu Kongju, an expert at the Chengdu base, is quoted as saying.

"They also receive more buns, fruits and bamboo, so some clever pandas have used this to their advantage to improve their quality of life."

The birth of Ai Hin's supposed cub and its progress in its early days, from its first cries to acquiring its distinctive black-and-white fur, were due to be broadcast online to panda lovers in China and worldwide.

Giant pandas are notoriously reluctant to breed in captivity and pseudo-pregnancies are common.

The female is fertile for no more than three days a year, and the time span for a pregnancy is from 80 to 200 days, according to the Chengdu base. Scientists will closely monitor behavioral and physiological signs, but it's often a guessing game.

Even if a pregnancy proves genuine, baby pandas have very low survival rates. According to the Chengdu base, only a third to a half of pandas born in Chinese captivity manage to survive past infancy.

There was good news last month, though, when a panda gave birth to a healthy set of triplets in China's Chimelong Safari Park in the southern city of Guangzhou. The cubs are thought to be the only living panda triplets in the world.

Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland thinks its panda, Tian Tian, could be the next to produce a cub, based on the latest scientific tests, but there are no guarantees.

"It is very likely that we will not know 100% if Tian Tian is pregnant until she gives birth," Iain Valentine, Director of giant pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said earlier this month.

As few as 1,600 giant pandas survive in the mountain forests of central China, according to the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo in Washington. More than 300 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world, most of them in China.


This picture taken on July 17, 2014 shows giant panda Ai Hin sitting in its enclosure at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre in Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan's province. Hopes that tiny panda paws would be seen in the world's first live-broadcast cub delivery were dashed on August 26, 2014 when Chinese experts suggested the mother may have been focusing more on extra bun rations than giving birth. (Photo: STR AFP/Getty Images))







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Friday, July 25, 2014

Baby Alligator Escapes Zoo And Accomplice Was The Tortoise, Gator Still On The Run In Michigan


A baby alligator named Carlos has pulled of the zoo version of the greatest escape with the help of a local tortoise. GarLyn Zoo officials believe they know how the little gator managed to pull off its caper but the animal is still on the loose in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, gators are not just escapees, they can be the good guys, too. One car thief found himself thwarted by an alligator in Florida. Still, they are known to be a touchy lot. One guy was caught on video trying to move an alligator out of the road, and that went about as you would expect.

GarLyn Zoo is home to about 100 animals, including two adult alligators and little baby Carlos, who has only been with the zoo for a few months. The reason the alligator escaped the zoo was because the 12-inch little guy was being housed in a pond with turtles, which has a fence with one-inch openings. Manager Gary Moore says a large tortoise has a tendency to wear the dirt away from the bottom of the fence when it makes its rounds of its cage. They believe a hole was opened up that was large enough for the baby gator to escape.

Carlos is the first escapee in the 21 years the zoo has been in operation. In fact, Moore did not even notice his gator was missing until a state trooper visited him and told stories of witnesses seeing a young alligator ambling along U.S. 2:

“I’m asking people that if they see a little alligator holding a sign on U.S. 2 that says, ‘Florida or bust’ to call us.”

Unfortunately, while the situation sounds kind of funny, it’s actually quite serious for the baby alligator. Moore does not believe Carlos will survive in the wild past October and are hoping people will help find and recover him. Although the gator is said to pose little threat to humans since he only stands about an inch and half tall, Moore recommends not touching the alligator and they ask people to call GarLyn Zoo at 906-477-1085 or contact the police.

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Friday, November 9, 2012

Young Boy Killed by African Painted Dogs at the Pittsburgh Zoo



This is a very sad story:

Pittsburgh, PA - A 2-year-old boy was mauled by African painted dogs  after falling over the railing on which his mother put him to view the wild animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo, police said.

The boy died after falling 14 feet into the exhibit, said Barbara Baker, director of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Barker said it's unclear whether the boy died from the fall or from the attack.

Zoo officials tried firing darts to scare the dogs away from the child, but the animals, which are pack hunters, did not immediately respond.

The dogs were eventually moved from the exhibit, with the exception of one, which had to be shot after it continued to "be aggressive" to the boy, Baker told a news conference Sunday.

"Unfortunately, by the time EMTs were able to get to him, the boy had passed away," Baker said.

The boy and his mother, 34, Pleasant Hills, Pa., residents who have not been identified, were visiting the zoo just before noon when police say the toddler's mother stood the boy on a wooden railing outside the exhibit. Witnesses say the boy lost his balance and fell into the exhibit.

"There is a railing with a graphic sign. And the child flipped over the top of that railing, and there is also a catch basin to catch things that fall into the exhibit. But apparently the child flipped over that as well," Barker said.

That's when all 11 dogs pounced on the toddler and began to maul him. Witnesses said the scene lasted five minutes, but felt like an eternity.

"We heard screams pretty loudly, and maybe like five minutes had passed by before we heard of what sounded like gunshots," eyewitness Carey Lenz said.

Zookeepers ran into the enclosure, luring seven of the dogs away. Other zoo officials tried to beat the remaining dogs back. The most aggressive dog was shot and killed by a Pittsburgh police officer.

"From what I have heard, this was a pretty horrific scene," police Lt. Kevin Kraus said.

Police said the boy's father arrived on the scene soon after the accident, according The Associated Press.

The zoo has been closed until further notice.

African painted dogs are an endangered species and are about the size of a medium-sized domestic dog, according to the zoo. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs and painted wolves. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes.

"They are one of the most aggressive predatory animals in the wild. A zookeeper, a tranquilizer gun could not have helped," said Jack Hanna, Columbus Zoo director emeritus.

The Pittsburgh Zoo has raised these dogs since birth, but it's not the first time they've caused trouble. The dogs caused a brief lockdown of the zoo in May after they crawled under a fence to another part of the exhibit. But they never left the exhibit and no one was harmed.

Baker said the Pittsburgh Zoo has never had a visitor death. She said no decision has been made yet about the future of the exhibit.



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