Boy, 3, scratched by lynx at Oklahoma zoo exhibit after wandering under rope barrier

By AP
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Boy, 3, attacked by lynx at Okla. zoo exhibit

NORMAN, Okla. — A Norman, Okla., zoo has put up a new, solid fence in front of an exhibit after a 3-year-old boy was clawed by a 45-pound European lynx.

Little River Zoo director Janet Schmid said Tuesday the boy was looking at swans on Monday when he followed his sister, went through a rope barrier, over a low retaining wall and up to the cat’s fence.

The child suffered superficial wounds to the head, but wasn’t seriously injured.

Schmid says the cat has been placed in an inside enclosure, and a solid fence has been built to keep the public away from the outside area.

Discussion

Allen Nyhuis
October 4, 2009: 3:26 pm

Sadly, this is a fault of a parent. Children need to be supervised when wandering among wild animals, even if they are in zoo exhibits. This lynx was just doing what’s natural for it. I sure hope this parent isn’t a greedy money-grubber and file an unjustified lawsuit.

Allen Nyhuis, Coauthor: America’s Best Zoos

YOUR VIEW POINT
NAME : (REQUIRED)
MAIL : (REQUIRED)
will not be displayed
WEBSITE : (OPTIONAL)
YOUR
COMMENT :