Child falls into rhinoceros exhibit at Florida zoo
By Stefan Becket
/ CBS News
A 2-year-old girl is recovering in the hospital after stumbling into a rhinoceros exhibit at a Florida zoo and coming into contact with one of the animals, officials said Tuesday.
Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida, said the girl was taking part in a "hands-on, educational experience" with the zoo's southern white rhinos when he or she apparently fell between steel poles separating guests from the rhino yard. The zoo is about 50 miles southeast of Orlando.
In a statement, the zoo said "the snout of at least one of rhinoceroses made contact with the child." Spokesman Elliot Zirulnik told CBS affiliate WKMG-TV the snout is defined as the area below the animal's horn.
The girl was rescued and taken to the Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando, WKMG reported. The child's mother was also transported to a local hospital for unspecified treatment.
In a statement released by the hospital later Tuesday, the girl's father said she is "doing well" and the mother had been treated and released. The family asked for privacy following what the father called a "trying day."
"Our number one concern is the safety and welfare of our guests and our hearts go out to the family," the zoo's executive director Keith Winsten said. "Safety has always been of paramount importance to us and we are suspending these encounters until we have thoroughly reviewed our processes and procedures to ensure this cannot happen again."
The zoo said the "Rhino Encounters" had been held daily without incident for about a decade.
Brevard Zoo is home to four southern white rhinos, including two males and two females, according to its website. Frankie, a 16-year-old, 5,200 pound male, arrived at the zoo in October.
Officials told WKMG the rhinoceros involved won't be punished in any way.
First published on January 2, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nadler says Dems should "wait and see" on impeachment
The incoming House Judiciary Committee chairman also says he'll hold hearings on the deaths of two migrant children who died in CBP custody in December. "If kids die, they're apparently willing to have that," Nadler said
updated 5M ago 
Child injured after falling into rhino exhibit at Florida zoo
Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida, said the child was taking part in a "hands-on, educational experience" with the zoo's southern white rhinos
updated 11M ago 
Mitt Romney slams Trump days before being sworn into Senate
Although Romney is critical of Mr. Trump in the editorial, he also writes that he will follow the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
updated 18M ago 
Trump meets with Republicans, Democrats on border security
Republicans and Democrats have been in a stalemate, with no clear path to ending the partial government shutdown
updated 23M ago 
Nurses help "anxious" new parents at home, and program pays off
For every dollar spent on the program, an estimated $3 in health care costs are saved
updated 29M ago
Nadler says Dems should "wait and see" on impeachment
The incoming House Judiciary Committee chairman also says he'll hold hearings on the deaths of two migrant children who died in CBP custody in December. "If kids die, they're apparently willing to have that," Nadler said
updated 5M ago
Mitt Romney slams Trump days before being sworn into Senate
Although Romney is critical of Mr. Trump in the editorial, he also writes that he will follow the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
updated 18M ago
Trump meets with Republicans, Democrats on border security
Republicans and Democrats have been in a stalemate, with no clear path to ending the partial government shutdown
updated 23M ago 
Intelligence Matters: A CBS News original national security podcast
"Intelligence Matters" is a weekly podcast about national security and policy hosted by CBS News senior national security contributor Michael Morell
3H ago
Transcript: Lisa Monaco with Michael Morell on "Intelligence Matters"
Former White House counterterrorism chief Lisa Monaco talks with Morell about terror threat that's "getting worse"
3H ago 
Venice plans to tax day-trippers in effort to curb tourism
Locals say it has become a Disneyland for tourists, and the city's future is at stake
1H ago 
New details on former U.S. Marine accused of spying in Russia
Paul Whelan's brother is rejecting the claim that the Michigan man detained in Russia is a spy
2H ago 
Researchers claim world record for longest life a case of ID fraud
Russian mathematician says Frenchwoman was dead long before she supposedly passed away in 1997 at the age of 122
updated 48M ago 
U.S. fires tear gas across border to stop migrants, including children
Customs and Border Protection says agents saw "toddler sized children" being passed over concertina wire with difficulty
1H ago 
Chinese leader vows to stop "any sort of Taiwan independence"
But Taiwan's president rejects China's insistence on "one country, two systems" unification
4H ago 
Watch: Texas steer mascot charges Georgia bulldog before game
Texas football program's mascot, a large white and brown longhorn steer named Bevo, charged in the direction of Georgia's mascot , a bulldog name Uga
2H ago 
Netflix nixes U.S. satire in Saudi Arabia "to comply with local law"
Streaming giant takes heat for removal of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" episode in which comedian lashes crown prince over journalist's murder
6H ago 
Madonna gives surprise New Year's Eve concert at historic Stonewall Inn
Madonna performed with "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Like a Prayer" with her son, David Banda, playing guitar
15H ago 
Jimmy Osmond suffers stroke after U.K. performance
Osmond was playing Captain Hook in a performance of Peter Pan
21H ago 
"Nervous" Roger Federer faces Serena Williams for 1st time
"People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just can't read it," Federer said
23H ago 
NASA spacecraft survives historic trip to world 4 billion miles away
New Horizons zooms past the celestial object known as Ultima Thule 3 ½ years after its spectacular brush with Pluto
updated 44M ago 
Report: China completes antenna 5 times the size of NYC
The Wireless Electromagnetic Method project was built on a site nearly five times the size of New York City
Dec 31, 2018 
Retail revolution brings robot restaurants, car vending machines to China
Companies are re-engineering their businesses to cater to consumers who rely on smartphones for pretty much everything
Dec 31, 2018 
New Horizons space probe closes in for historic encounter
NASA's New Horizons probe is racing toward the most distant space object ever explored, 4.1 billion miles from Earth
updated 45M ago 
New augmented reality technology could help firefighters save lives
Operating in pitch-black, smoke-filled rooms may become less dangerous with the help of special cameras and computer programs built into the C-Thru firefighter's mask
Dec 31, 2018 
Nurses help "anxious" new parents at home, and program pays off
For every dollar spent on the program, an estimated $3 in health care costs are saved
updated 29M ago 
Pets burned in California's Camp Fire get relief with fish-skin treatments
The skin has been used to treat bears and mountain lions in the past
1H ago 
Top health stories to watch for in 2019
From a mysterious polio-like illness affecting kids to 3D-printing human organs, here are some medical stories to keep an eye on
22H ago 
5 popular hangover cures, reviewed by experts
From black coffee to a hair of the dog – here's the science behind popular hangover remedies
Jan 1 
Judge lets Obamacare stand during appeal process
Judge Reed O'Connor said he stands by his conclusion that the law is invalidated by congressional repeal of its fines on people who remain uninsured
Dec 30, 2018 
Stocks kick off 2019 with a slide
Investors are spooked by the latest readings from China that point to slower growth amid a global trade war
updated 4M ago 
Stocks end the year down in worst decline since 2008
Investors endured the worst year for stocks since the recession — here's what experts say is in store for 2019
Dec 31, 2018 
Opportunity in America, 10 years after the financial crisis
This week's "Where Did You Get This Number?" podcast explores the impact of the financial crisis on how people deal with money, plus opportunity in the digital economy and income in America
Dec 31, 2018 
Stocks climb amid renewed hopes for U.S.-China trade deal
Despite President Trump's optimism over trade dispute, stocks are limping into 2019 amid growth fears
Dec 31, 2018 
5 New Year’s resolutions for working boomers
Here are critical steps that will improve your retirement prospects and — best part — can be easy to achieve
Dec 31, 2018 
"He fired at us for no reason": Mother of slain 7-year-old recalls shooting
Jazmine Barnes was killed after a gunman in a pickup truck pulled up next to the car she was in and started shooting
14H ago 
Kids in 2 states wounded by possible New Year's "celebratory" gunfire
A nine-year-old boy in Georgia and a six-year-old girl in California were both wounded by stray bullets overnight
19H ago 
Mother killed over $35 manicure at Las Vegas nail salon
Las Vegas police search for a woman accused of using a stolen car to run over and kill a nail salon worker after failing to pay for a $35 manicure
Jan 1 
Elizabeth Smart responds to news her kidnapper lives near school
Wanda Barzee, who helped kidnap Smart, is listed in sex-offender registry as living near Parkview Elementary School in Utah
Jan 1 
Search for gunman who killed 7-year-old girl riding in car with family
Jazmine Barnes was killed when a man in a red pickup truck pulled up next to her family's car and opened fire Sunday
Dec 31, 2018 Original Article
