Emily Scheffel, Freshman
Zoos are extremely fun and family-friendly places. A lot of zoos are destinations for many field trips and family trips. Even though zoos are seen as fun places, when you take into consideration the fact that wild animals are kept in unnatural, confined spaces, it is inevitable for some animals to act out.
Elephant Attacks Instructor
At the Toronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia in 2012 Lucy Melo, a 40-year-old zookeeper was teaching a two-year-old Asian elephant to wash himself for public view. All was going well and Melo was almost finished when she asked the elephant a final favor, but the elephant turned on her. The elephant used it’s trunk to push her against a wall by her chest. Thankfully, co-workers stepped in and Melo fully recovered from her injuries.
Killer Whale Drowns Instructor
At SeaWorld in Orlando Florida in 2010 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau was doing a performance with a killer whale when things went south. The whale grabbed Brancheau by her ponytail and began thrashing her around underwater in front of horrified visitors. Those in attendance were rushed out of the venue while the workers took action trying to save Brancheau. Sadly, by the time they recovered her body she had already passed away. An autopsy showed that she was killed by blunt force trauma to the torso, neck, and head. Some of her scalp was “forcibly torn from the head”.
Tiger Mauls Woman
At China Animal Park in Beijing China, Ms. Zhao and her mother were driving through the tiger enclosure- an activity that is permitted. Ms. Zhao exited the car and a tiger dragged her away. Her mother tried to save her, but she was mauled by a second tiger. Ms. Zhao was able to break free and run away, but her mother, unfortunately, passed away.
Polar Bear Seizes Australian Woman
At the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska 29-year-old Kathryn Warburton from Sydney, Australia was visiting the Alaska Zoo. Warburton wanted to get a close-up picture of Binky the polar bear so she climbed over two safety barriers to get closer. Binky reached through the bars, grabbed Warburton's leg, and wouldn’t let go. Warburton was able to break free and suffered bite wounds, a broken leg, and had to undergo surgery.
Although zoo animals are adorable, sometimes their natural instinct gets the best of them and they attack people. Zoos are considerably safe so don’t let these few stories scare you away from them. They are a lot of fun as long as you follow directions!
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