Child enters Milwaukee County Zoo animal habitat as staff activate emergency protocols
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A child entered an animal habitat at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Monday, Aug. 24, prompting staff to activate emergency protocols in the African Savanna Yard.
The zoo says a staff member saw the child inside the habitat and radioed for help.
“We have staff all out in the park,” said Tracey Dolphin, director of animal management and health for the Milwaukee County Zoo. “Seeing a guest in an animal's habitat is not normal, so once that person realized that, they radioed and that impacted our emergency protocols.”
Those protocols included getting guests out of the area and moving the animals off the habitat.
Alleged cellphone video shared online appears to show the child chasing a bird before a relative climbs into the habitat and helps the child out using a ladder.
The zoo says pelicans, vultures, southern ground hornbills and gazelles are among the animals that call the African Savanna Yard home.
Dolphin said guests should stay behind the railings and respect the animals and their space.
“Staying behind the railing and looking at the animals, being respectful,” she said. “We have to remember that these are the animals' homes and it takes all of us to be respectful towards our animals.”
The zoo says the animals in the habitat are not considered dangerous. Dolphin said, however, that any interaction with animals carries a potential risk.
“With any animals, there is always a potential that there could be an injury,” she said.
The zoo is still investigating what happened and how the child got into the habitat.
No people or animals were injured.
“We want to make sure that everyone is coming out to have a safe experience at the zoo and a safe experience for our animals,” Dolphin said.
The zoo has not decided whether there will be any repercussions for the family because the investigation is ongoing.
Someone claiming to be the child's father said the family does not want to speak publicly at this time.