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Keeper mauled in anteater attack
From correspondents in Argentina
April 12, 2007 07:48am
Article from: Reuters
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The female anteater apparently attacked her keeper at a Buenos Aires-area zoo because she thought her offspring were under threat.
The unusual attack damaged the zookeeper's stomach, liver and lungs, said Jose Potito, director of the hospital where the woman was being treated.
"The woman's condition is very serious," Dr Potito told local TV channel America.
Anteaters, which can measure up to 2.8m long and weigh as much as 50kg, are native to Latin America and have toothless snouts.
They are usually not aggressive, but their long, knife-like claws can do serious damage to predators when they defend themselves.
A worker at the zoo described the attack as an accident and said the animal was not punished in response.
Anteaters are endangered, according to the Argentine Wildlife Foundation, which uses the distinctive-looking animal as its symbol for protecting local species.
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Protected ... the anteater is an endangered species in South America / AFP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21543386-2,00.html
From correspondents in Argentina
April 12, 2007 07:48am
Article from: Reuters
Font size: + -
Send this article: Print Email
- Keeper's stomach ripped open in attack
- Anteater thought to have been protecting young
- Zoo says mauling an accident, no punishment to animal
The female anteater apparently attacked her keeper at a Buenos Aires-area zoo because she thought her offspring were under threat.
The unusual attack damaged the zookeeper's stomach, liver and lungs, said Jose Potito, director of the hospital where the woman was being treated.
"The woman's condition is very serious," Dr Potito told local TV channel America.
Anteaters, which can measure up to 2.8m long and weigh as much as 50kg, are native to Latin America and have toothless snouts.
They are usually not aggressive, but their long, knife-like claws can do serious damage to predators when they defend themselves.
A worker at the zoo described the attack as an accident and said the animal was not punished in response.
Anteaters are endangered, according to the Argentine Wildlife Foundation, which uses the distinctive-looking animal as its symbol for protecting local species.
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