![]() ![]() Authorities first said the wall was 18 feet high, but a review found it was just 12 ½ feet. In 2007 a tiger jumped over a wall at the San Francisco zoo, killing one visitor and wounding two others. Past fatal attacks at have prompted zoos around the nation to review safety features of their exhibits. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution. In May, some of the dogs crawled under a fence and escaped into a part of the exhibit that's usually closed. Visitors walk onto a deck that is glassed on the sides, but open in front where the roughly four-foot railing is located. The attack happened in a 1.5 acre exhibit called the Painted Dog Bush Camp that's part of a larger open area where elephants, lions and other animals can be seen. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered. The so-called painted dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, and 37 to 80 pounds, according to the zoo. The Allegheny County medical examiner planned an autopsy Monday and the boy's name was not expected to be released until that was complete. Zoo officials at first estimated the boy fell 14 feet, but police said it was 11. It's not yet clear whether the boy died from the fall or the attack, said Barbara Baker, president of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. "Almost immediately after that he lost his balance, fell down off the railing into the pit, and he was immediately attacked by 11 dogs," Kraus said. Sunday after the mother picked the child up and put him on top of a railing at the edge of a viewing deck. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh police said the attack happened at about 11:45 a.m. All Rights Reserved.PITTSBURGH (AP) - A mother's attempt to give her two-year-old son a better view of wild African dogs turned into a tragedy at the Pittsburgh Zoo after the boy fell into the exhibit and was killed by a pack of the animals as relatives and bystanders looked on. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ![]() (TM and © Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Due to a confidentiality agreement with the family, the Pittsburgh Zoo cannot legally comment further on this matter.In 2014, the Zoo opened a new exhibit, highlighting giraffe, zebra, and cheetah in the general area where the accident occurred.At no time had any concerns or violations regarding this exhibit been identified by the regulatory agency. The USDA had conducted 35 inspections at the painted dog exhibit since its opening in 2006.After careful inspection, it was determined that the painted dog exhibit continuously exceeded the safety requirements mandated by the USDA and AZA. All of the Zoo's exhibits meet or exceed the highest standards for animal care and visitor safety.Information is communicated to all levels of management. These policies are reviewed and updated every year. The Zoo has well established policies and procedures to constantly evaluate safety and security on our grounds, with state certified committees.We are constantly on alert for safety concerns, for our visitors, animals and staff. Safety is and always will be a priority for the Zoo.The zoo says it cannot legally comment on the matter due to confidentiality. Many of the concerns raised by the safety committee were already made public in the course of the now-settled civil lawsuit by Maddox's parents. He was mauled to death by the 11 painted dogs. The report found the zoo's fencing around the wild dog exhibit was "not sufficient" to prevent 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh from falling into the exhibit. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the federal report was released this month more than four years it filed a Freedom of Information Act request. PITTSBURGH (AP/KDKA) - A newly released report shows that Pittsburgh Zoo staff raised concerns about a child falling through an opening into an African painted dog exhibit on at least six separate occasions before a fatal mauling in 2012.
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