November 5 (RIA Novosti) Police and zoo officials were investigating Monday the death of a 2-year-old boy, who was killed when he fell into an exhibit of wild African dogs at the Pittsburgh Zoo in the US state of Pennsylvania.
His mother, trying to help him get a better view, had placed the boy on top of a 4-foot (1.2 meter) railing, authorities said.
"Almost immediately after that he lost his balance, fell down off the railing into the pit, and he was immediately attacked by 11 dogs," said Lt. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh Police Department, according to The Associated Press.
"It was very horrific."
He did not comment on potential charges in the case, but said officials will look into the boy’s death in the incident Sunday to determine if it could have been prevented.
"We were on our way to the polar bear exhibit when we heard the most horrible piercing screams,” said zoo visitor Angela Cinti in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Someone was begging for help, asking someone to do something."
The attack happened at the Painted Dog Bush Camp exhibit, which features the endangered species known as “painted dogs,” marked by their large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes. They are medium-sized dogs and grow up to 80 pounds (36 kilograms).
Police told the Post-Gazette that when zoo personnel reached the scene minutes after the boy fell, they were able to call seven of the dogs off, but others did not respond immediately and the workers began throwing objects to scare them away, and then used “dummy tranquilizer rounds,” possibly because they were concerned that using live rounds might further injure the boy.
Their efforts were not effective, said Kraus, because "the dogs were in pack mentality and not responding," but three more dogs were finally secured.
The last dog was shot by police officers and later died.
The zoo remains closed. Police have not released the name of the boy or his family.
