Cheetah attacks boy at Park

[stug]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11820369

A New Zealand boy has been attacked by a cheetah in South Africa.

Isaac Driver, 14, was attacked by a cheetah while on a family holiday.

The Christchurch boy received injuries to his back and shoulder, Radio New Zealand reported.

Isaac and his family were touring a safari park in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday morning local time.

They were among a group of about 20 people at the Emdoneni park who were supervised as they patted two cheetahs.

Mandy Driver told RNZ that as the group left the enclosure, one of the cheetahs pushed her son to the ground with "full force".

"[It] pushed through a few different people, caught my daughter's top, ripped all her top, and then landed on my son as he was facing it ... and pushed him to the ground," she said.

"[The cheetah] landed him on the ground as though it was eating him."

RNZ reported that the safari park refunded the cost of the tour.

Mandy Driver said her son was okay, and she did not want the park shut down.

 

[petrusg]

Thats why its called a wild animal

 

[johnnyblues]

Sorry to hear that. But as said it is a wild animal. I ve wondered how petting a cheetah could go wrong at any moment.

 

[CAustin]

Got there $20 bucks back.....that should cover the cost of a new shirt!!!

 

[mrpoindexter]

Glad he got out mostly OK and nice to hear that the parents seemed to understand that is just the risk of playing with wild animals and didn't demand the park close or the animal be put down.

 

[PARA45]

Glad he got out mostly OK and nice to hear that the parents seemed to understand that is just the risk of playing with wild animals and didn't demand the park close or the animal be put down.

Well said! Or sued the park.

 

[Nyati]

Playing with any animal has risks, at least the parents acted well.

 

[James Cook]

i don't get it when people are surprised wild animals do something like this. though they may seem "tamed", under stress or the right conditions they will resort to instinct - kill and protect. even "domesticated" dogs can do the same.

 

[dobber]

any scar that kid has can now be told as a story when he is sitting in a bar chatting up some girl "got this scar from a lion"
and yes i know a cheetah isnt a lion, but let the kid have some levity while trying to charm the ladies

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Cheetahs are not fond of children and you will often see Cheetahs look at kids as they are prey and certainly their first target. Women are next...

 

[ArmyGrunt]

any scar that kid has can now be told as a story when he is sitting in a bar chatting up some girl "got this scar from a lion"
and yes i know a cheetah isnt a lion, but let the kid have some levity while trying to charm the ladies

It was these twelve guys, with dogs. And chains. You should see the other guys...

 

[siml]

A 3 year old boy was killed the weekend by a cheetah on John Varty's place.

 

[Roan]

Yea on the news here. Super sad.

If I am not mistaken its the second death at his place.

Wasn't there an incident last year as well?

 

[Hoas]

Cheetah kills boy on Varty’s farm

A three-year-old boy died today after being attacked by a cheetah on a farm at Philippolis in the Free State.

Police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said the boy was attacked by a cheetah and then airlifted to a hospital in Bloemfontein.

However, on the way there he succumbed to his injuries.

Makhele said the incident happened on the Tiger Canyons Farm.

Well-known filmmaker and owner of the farm, John Varty, confirmed in an interview with OFM News that the incident happened on his farm.

He said earlier reports that the child was attacked by a tiger are untrue and that it was, in fact, a cheetah.

Varty said it is not clear yet what happened but the son of one of his workers on the farm, Jacob Pieterse, was attacked and died.

The police confirmed that an inquest docket was opened and no-one was arrested in connection with the boy’s death.


Source: http://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/cheetah-kills-boy-vartys-farm/