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| Child dies after falling into wild dog enclosure at Pittsburgh zoo | Child dies after falling into wild dog enclosure at Pittsburgh zoo |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A young boy visiting the Pittsburgh zoo with his mother and friends was killed Sunday when he fell about 14ft off a deck into an area home to a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the boy and mauled him, zoo officials said. | A young boy visiting the Pittsburgh zoo with his mother and friends was killed Sunday when he fell about 14ft off a deck into an area home to a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the boy and mauled him, zoo officials said. |
| It was not clear whether he died from the fall or the attack, said Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh zoo & PPG aquarium. | It was not clear whether he died from the fall or the attack, said Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh zoo & PPG aquarium. |
| When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zookeepers called off the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building. Three more eventually were drawn away from the boy, but the last dog wouldn't come into the building, and police had to shoot him, Baker said. | When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zookeepers called off the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building. Three more eventually were drawn away from the boy, but the last dog wouldn't come into the building, and police had to shoot him, Baker said. |
| "It's clear that the dogs did attack the child, but whether he died of the attack or the fall has yet to be determined," Baker said. | "It's clear that the dogs did attack the child, but whether he died of the attack or the fall has yet to be determined," Baker said. |
| The dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, 2 to 2½ft high and 37 to 80lbs, according to the zoo. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs, and painted wolves. They have large, round ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered. | The dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, 2 to 2½ft high and 37 to 80lbs, according to the zoo. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs, and painted wolves. They have large, round ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered. |
| Police and the Allegheny County medical examiner's office were investigating. Baker said the zoo, which has never had a visitor death, plans an internal investigation. | Police and the Allegheny County medical examiner's office were investigating. Baker said the zoo, which has never had a visitor death, plans an internal investigation. |
| In May, some of the dogs escaped into a part of the exhibit that is usually closed. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution. | In May, some of the dogs escaped into a part of the exhibit that is usually closed. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution. |
| Ten African painted dogs were born at the zoo in 2009, and their mother died of a ruptured uterus shortly after delivering the litter. Five of the pups survived. The mortality rate for painted pups is 50%, even when born in the wild to a healthy mother. | Ten African painted dogs were born at the zoo in 2009, and their mother died of a ruptured uterus shortly after delivering the litter. Five of the pups survived. The mortality rate for painted pups is 50%, even when born in the wild to a healthy mother. |
| It was only the second litter to be hand-raised in captivity, zoo officials said at the time. | It was only the second litter to be hand-raised in captivity, zoo officials said at the time. |
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