Zookeeper dies after anteater attack

The Australian ^ | April 13, 2007

[Dundee]

A YOUNG Argentine zookeeper who worked on a giant anteater conservation project died today after she was attacked by an anteater who mauled her abdomen and legs with its sharp front claws.

"Her injuries were very serious and when she was admitted she was already in critical condition," Jose Potito, director of the hospital, said.

Mr Potito said Melisa Casco, 19, died after an operation to amputate one of her legs.

Casco worked at the Florencio Varela zoo outside Buenos Aires as part of a conservation and reproduction project involving endangered giant anteaters.

...

Anteaters, which can measure up to 2.8 metres 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.

[MarkL]

And kangaroos. They'll actually grapple with their front paws, lean back on their tail, and rake the underbelly with the claws of their rear feet. They've been known to disembowel people. These sorts of fights aren't quite so deadly when they do this to each other, but it's because their hides are remarkably tough. That's why kangaroo skin makes some of the best motorcycle leathers. Incredibly abrasion resistant.

Mark

[CDHart]

I wonder if she tried to pick it up?

Carolyn

[Savage Beast]

Okay. Go ahead and laugh. But I bet it wasn’t all that funny to Uncle Pedro!

[Savage Beast]

Koala?

[Dundee]

Koala?

I remember hearing years ago of a tourist being killed by a koala. People love picking up and holding koalas and apparently one decided that it didn't like being held. Claws to the jugular and it was all over red rover.

Koalas have very sharp and powerful claws they use to get up and down trees so I could just imagine the damage they could do.

[nothingnew]

She got the ultimate "ZOT!"

FMCDH(BITS)

[andy58-in-nh]

And never try to handle a dik-dik by yourself.

Is there any other way?

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

I wouldn't be surprised if a wombat has taken somebody out at some stage.

How about moonbats?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Don’t forget about Adult Male Chimps. There was this story a while back about this couple that had a chimp and they had to put him in some sort of chimp colony. They took Bonzo (or whatever his name was) his birthday cake and Bonzo (maybe with the help of his colony mates) mauled them to death in a particularly gruesome way!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Roger Caras wrote a wonderful book about the dangers of wildlife, “Dangerous to Man”. Kinda a wake up call to Bambi set. All wild animals are dangerous to a greater or lesser degree.

[JRios1968]

"That will teach her"

[theFIRMbss]

>Zookeeper dies after anteater attack

What's up downunder?
First it was a crazy croc,
now an anteater . . .

[speedy]

Maybe not; I imagine life gets lonely out on the savanna.

[Savage Beast]

What a disappointment, Dun! And koalas look so cute and cuddly.

I think they have an alcohol problem too, and everybody knows that alcoholics can get nasty.

[Smokin' Joe]

Put Ostrich in there, too.

[mware]

Some real odd animal attacks lately.

[miliantnutcase]

Dogs kill and maul more people every day/year than any of these animals and yet they aren’t regarded as being dangerous- they sleep in my bed for Godsakes!

[CougarGA7]

Ive got an emu story....vile birds.

When my oldest boy turned 3 I took him to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The emus were only separated from you by a chain-link fence and one of them nipped at my son.

It didn't hurt him, but it scared him so to show him it was OK I put the back of my hand out to the emu telling him they wont hurt you.

About that time the emu nailed that back of my hand splitting my knuckle wide open.

I quickly and calmly but my hand behind my back telling him, “See, its alright.“

He was content at that point and went trotting off to catch up with grandma.

Once he had turned around I then went about hoping around and holding my hand which was bleeding. I also was looking for that damn bird so I could punch it in the head but since it had already proven it was smarter than me it had wandered off out of range.

I hate emus.

[Savage Beast]

Man! That’s gross!

[mware]

They actually reattached the guys arm. On Fox & FRiends this morning they said that they shot the croc two times in the neck and it didn’t go through its hide.