Update: Toddler Falls Into Jaguar Exhibit At Arkansas Zoo, Jaguars Repelled With Fire Extinguishers
A scary event has just unfolded at an Arkansas zoo leaving a 3-year-old boy injured.
A 3-year-old boy was rescued Friday after falling off a railing and into a jaguar exhibit at Arkansas’ Little Rock Zoo. He was taken to Children’s Hospital by ambulance, fire officials told KARK. His injuries weren’t immediately known, but Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore told the station at the time of the accident that the child appears to be doing well.
Unfortunately, it appears the boy was not well. KARK is now reporting that the boy has been taken in for surgery following the incident with an apparent skull fracture.
UPDATE: Child who fell into jaguar exhibit heading to surgery (via @DrewPetrimoulx) #ARNews
— KARK 4 (@KARK4News) October 10, 2014
Child who fell into jaguar exhibit heading to surgery per update email sent to city officials. #ARnews pic.twitter.com/ySMlWnkfkL
— Drew Petrimoulx (@DrewPetrimoulx) October 10, 2014
Reports indicate that the boy’s grandfather had put him on the railing before he dropped. Zoo staff initiated “emergency procedures” and got the boy out, Moore added. Details of the story are still emerging, but local news stations are keeping the public updated via social media.
One mother at the zoo for a field trip tells me she saw a little boy with blood on his head being taken out of the zoo. #THV11
— Alyssa Raymond (@AlyssaRaymond) October 10, 2014
The Little Rock Zoo is open. Police were here earlier after getting a call about a child who fell into a cat exhibit. #THV11
— Alyssa Raymond (@AlyssaRaymond) October 10, 2014
LR Fire officials say 3 yr boy was already out of the jaguar exhibit when they got here. No word yet on his condition pic.twitter.com/diQUIU0YsM
— Alyssa Raymond (@AlyssaRaymond) October 10, 2014
Barrier around jaguar exhibit mix of railing and concrete. #THV11 pic.twitter.com/eWDrRBZ3ag
— Alyssa Raymond (@AlyssaRaymond) October 10, 2014
The story will be updated as new details are confirmed.
This isn’t the first time a person has been injured inside an exhibit at the zoo. A woman was recently kicked in the face by a giraffe when she entered the enclosure.
Update: According to News 5 out of Arkansas, zoo officials immediately called for help over the speaker system when the toddler fell into the jaguar enclosure. A staff member was able to repel the jaguars with a fire extinguisher while a second staff member dropped a ladder into the exhibit and carried the child to safety. The staff then took the boy and his parents via a golf cart to a back exit of the zoo to meet an ambulance.
