![]() It continues: “Lou Nene told his boss, Mr. ![]() “Nene, in an interview broadcast Novemon KDKA-TV, admitted that he would see mothers place their children above or on the inadequately protected railing and opening ‘at least ten’ times a day,” the complaint states. ” … (T)he protection devices, guards, rails and/or the intended safety netting immediately below the opening were insufficient, defective and inadequate to prevent falls into this exhibit.”īefore Maddox died, zoo employee Lou Nene warned the zoo that he “personally observed mothers lift their children to see through the unguarded viewing area or place, then on the inadequately protected railing of the viewing window in the African wild dog exhibit ‘every day,'” the parents say in the complaint. “At the time of Maddox’s fall … the railings and guards at the African wild dog exhibit were in a defective and dangerous condition, as they were too low and insufficient to prevent Maddox, or any other visitor, from falling,” the complaint states. Within 20 minutes of falling into the exhibit, Maddox suffered “more than 220 total injuries resulting in extensive trauma to his head, neck trunk and extremities,” his parents say in the complaint. The complaint states: “African wild dogs are among the most ferocious predators in the wild and are widely considered the most efficient killers in the African plains, living in the wild on a diet of antelope, zebra, wildebeest, and other many times their size (typically 37-80 pounds.)” In addition to the defective railing and net, the Derkoshes claim the zoo “armed its employees with unloaded and/or blank tranquilizer guns,” had “non-functioning tranquilizer darts” and failed to heed safety warnings from its own employee. They claim the zoo provided inadequate railings and insufficient netting.Įlizabeth and Jason Derkosh sued the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and the Zoological Society of Pittsburgh for the wrongful death of their son, strict liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Maddox Derkosh slipped through his mother’s fingers, fell through an exhibit-viewing window last November and was mauled to death by the wild dogs, his parents claim in Allegheny County Court. The dogs hunt in packs in the wild, and Baker said that they “were in pack mentality” during the attack.PITTSBURGH (CN) – A pack of African wild dogs at the Pittsburgh Zoo killed a 2-year-old toddler while his mother helplessly watched, the family claims in court. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs, and painted wolves. The dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, according to the zoo. ![]() The boy's father arrived on the scene soon after the accident, police said. The zoo was immediately closed it was not clear when it would be reopened, authorities said.Īuthorities didn't immediately release the name of the boy or his mother, but say she is 34 years old and lives in Pleasant Hills, just outside Pittsburgh. Three more eventually were drawn away from the child, but the last dog was aggressive and police had to shoot the animal, officials say. Zookeepers called off some of the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building. When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zoo officials at first estimated the boy fell 4.26 metres, but police said it was 3.35 metres. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh police, who added that the dogs attacked “immediately” after the boy fell at about 11:45 a.m. ![]() It was not clear whether the boy died from the fall into the wild dog exhibit area or from the attack, said Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. PITTSBURGH, PA.- A 2-year-old boy visiting the Pittsburgh zoo was killed Sunday morning when he fell off a railing that his mother had put him on top of to view a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the child and mauled him, police said. ![]()
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