Drama unfolded on December 12 on the Nationwide Zoo after a bearcat bit two individuals, sending them to the hospital. Study what precipitated the Washington D.C. zoo’s binturong Lola to assault, in addition to the destiny of the 2 injured workers.
Bearcat Bites Two Individuals At The Nationwide Zoo
The time period bearcat is a misleading name, as a result of this animal is neither a bear nor a cat. The bearcat, also called a binturong, is a shaggy-haired mammal from Southeast Asian forests. The Smithsonian National Zoo shares that they extra intently resemble maskless raccoons. Additionally, they’re “within the household Viverridae with different small cat-like mammals.”
The bearcat is just not usually a menace to people, as it’s often a shy, docile animal. Nonetheless, like every other wild animal, when it feels provoked or threatened, it might probably assault. Whereas it’s unclear what totally provoked this bearcat to chew two zoo staff, PEOPLE has the main points surrounding the incident.
The assault occurred throughout a “routine weight test and coaching session.” Moreover, it occurred in an space of the zoo that’s closed off to the general public. In concept, if it have been a routine process and there have been no loud noises or different distractions, it ought to have gone properly, alas it didn’t. The binturong bit the worker dealing with it and didn’t need to let go.
How One Binturong Chew Turns Into Two
In line with an announcement issued by the Nationwide Zoo, one other employees member raced to help the zookeeper who was being bitten. Within the technique of eradicating the animal the opposite animal care colleague was additionally bitten. Each employees members sustained “non-life-threatening accidents.”
The zoo’s security announcement shared that “each employees have been transported to a neighborhood hospital for therapy out of an abundance of warning.” Lola the bearcat in addition to the 2 zoo staff all seem like doing tremendous. As does the opposite bearcat that lives within the zoo, 11-year-old Hank.