Girl, three, saved by her father after she climbed into bear's pen at zoo

By Daily Mail Reporter

Volatile: The 34-year-old father and his young daughter were lucky to escape with their lives after coming face-to-face with an Asiatic black bear at Luenebach zoo, Germany


A girl of three has been mauled by a bear after she climbed into a pen in a zoo.
The toddler’s life was saved by her father who clambered over a fence to the brave the angry animal in Germany.

Both were taken to hospital but their wounds were not thought to be life-threatening.

The incident occurred when the 34-year-old man, his wife and their two children were visiting the Luenebach zoo in southwest Germany on Wednesday afternoon.

While her parents were not watching, the girl scrambled over the approximately 3-foot (1-meter) high fence and fell into a moat.

Though her father climbed after her quickly, the 28-year-old Asiatic black bear had already hit the girl’s forehead, injuring here, police said.

The father succeeded in saving his daughter and escaping, but not before the bear injured his leg, according to police, who did not release the names of the people involved.

Other visitors who witnessed the scene called the rescue squad and the girl was flown to a hospital in Trier, police said. The father was also hospitalized.

Police said they were investigating possible negligence by the parents or the zoo.

Zoo officials said everything will be done to find out what exactly happened.

'We are all shocked,' Isabelle Wallpott, whose family owns the zoo, told The Associated Press.

'In any case, we will take additional precautions to prevent such a thing from happening again.'

Beyond that, she said she could not give any more details.

The private zoo, which features monkeys, kangaroos, tigers, lions and other wild animals, opened 38 years ago.

On its Website it says visitors will encounter 'animals close up' and will live through 'fascinating moments.'


source :dailymail