Head Of Training, The Healthy Work Company

October 23, 2014

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Dublin Zoo pleads guilty after toddler is attacked by exotic animal

Dublin Zoo has been ordered to pay €5000 to charity for breaching health and safety regulations after a two-year-old girl was mauled by a Brazilian tapir, leaving her with stomach and arm injuries. Her mother also required medical attention.

The incident happened during a supervised “close encounter” experience in the tapir enclosure on 8 August last year. The 225kg tapir picked the girl up in its mouth after the child ‘let out a screech’. The usually mild-mannered tapir had been placid prior to this, the court heard.

Following an investigation the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) prosecuted The Zoological Society of Ireland, which admitted a breakdown in communication was to blame for a 2006 risk assessment not being heeded. It had stated that the public should only be allowed to get close to harmless animals like stick-insects.

It was heard that zoo-keeper Susan O’Brien let a family with four young children have a close encounter with an animal, as a favour for a friend. The zoo’s director was unaware of this and defence counsel Shay Fleming and Mairead Wall of the HSA agreed these were no longer happening.

The zoo pleaded guilty to a single count contrary to Section 19.4 of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act for failing to implement a risk assessment, at Dublin District Court.

Judge John O’Neill heard that there had never been any incident like this in the zoo’s 180-year history and it was humiliated, apologetic and embarrassed, and has implemented new safety measures.

He therefore ruled that if it donated €2,500 to the Jack and Jill Foundation and the same amount to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice he would apply the Probation Offenders Act, sparing the zoo a fine and criminal record. The case was adjourned for eight weeks.

In a statement issued after the case Dublin Zoo said it had introduced additional updated safety protocols and procedures. Among these are changes to the tapir habitat to make it a protected contact habitat for staff and the installation of a secondary perimeter fence.

The statement concluded: “Dublin Zoo will continuously review its safety procedures and policies to ensure best practice is in place.”

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