Report: Child bit by sloth at NC family-run zoo :: WRAL.com Vibe NC

TL;DR: A USDA report revealed a child was bitten on the face by a sloth during a public interaction at Aloha Safari Park in Cameron, Moore County. The incident prompted the zoo to halt sloth interactions and quarantine the animal, with the facility cited for inadequate safety barriers.

Unexpected Encounter: Child Bitten by Sloth at Moore County’s Aloha Safari Park

A recent federal inspection report has shed light on an unusual incident at a popular family-run zoo in Moore County, where a child sustained a bite to the face from a sloth during a public interaction event.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection report, filed in April, the incident occurred at Aloha Safari Park in Cameron. While the precise date of the encounter remains unclear, the details outlined in the report raise important questions about visitor safety during close animal interactions.

The report details that the young visitor was participating in an event designed to allow guests to hold a sloth on their lap under the supervision of an attendant. During this interaction, a manager reported that the child, while holding the animal, attempted to either kiss or hug the sloth. It was at this moment that the sloth bit the child, resulting in a minor injury to the chin that required treatment.

The USDA report also noted that visitors are typically instructed to maintain a safe distance and keep their faces away from the animals during these types of hands-on experiences. The facility was cited for failing to “provide sufficient distance and or barrier between the public and the sloth to protect the public from harm.” The report emphasized that during public exhibition, animals must be handled to ensure “minimal risk of harm to the animal and to the public.”

In response to the incident, Aloha Safari Park has taken immediate action, discontinuing all public interactions involving the sloth. Furthermore, the sloth in question has been placed in quarantine, as stated in the inspection findings.

Aloha Safari Park is a well-known local attraction, offering both drive-thru and walk-thru exhibits that feature a diverse range of animals, from zebras and wildebeests to capybaras and fennec foxes. These immersive experiences are a draw for many families across North Carolina and beyond.

Our news team has reached out to Aloha Safari Park for a statement regarding the USDA report and the changes implemented following the incident, and we will update our readers as more information becomes available.

Original reporting by via www.wral.com. Read the full original source here. Categories: parks,Moore County,USDA,Cameron,animals Join the discussion: #Report #Child #bit #sloth #familyrun #zoo #WRAL.com