Zookeeper dies after anteater attack

The Australian ^ | April 13, 2007

[Dundee]

A YOUNG Argentine zookeeper who worked on a giant anteater conservation project died today after she was attacked by an anteater who mauled her abdomen and legs with its sharp front claws.

"Her injuries were very serious and when she was admitted she was already in critical condition," Jose Potito, director of the hospital, said.

Mr Potito said Melisa Casco, 19, died after an operation to amputate one of her legs.

Casco worked at the Florencio Varela zoo outside Buenos Aires as part of a conservation and reproduction project involving endangered giant anteaters.

...

Anteaters, which can measure up to 2.8 metres long and weigh as much as 50kg, are native to Latin America and have toothless snouts.

They are usually not aggressive but their long, knife-like claws can do serious damage to predators when they defend themselves.

[Thrownatbirth]

That’s not exactly how I pictured death by an anteater.

[familyop]

...good argument in favor of circumcision, perhaps?

[Graybeard58]

That’s not exactly how I pictured death by an anteater.

You are probably thinking of an aunteater.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

That's why people , or people who work with wild animals should take extra caution when working with wild animals.
I am not saying that domesticated animals are dangerous, it just with wild animals is a greater element of danger.

[Graybeard58]

My Uncle Pedro was killed by a weasel.

He was walking down the rail road tracks one day and he didn’t hear the weasel.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

My Uncle Pedro was killed by a weasel.

I laughed at that before I even read the punchline.

[Sender]

Somehow “killed by an anteater” does not compute...but obviously, add them to the list of deadly animals.

[Icthus]

“...aunteater...”

My first good laugh of the day!

[Tolsti]

Reminds me of that MST3K episode.

[Dundee]

Somehow “killed by an anteater” does not compute...but obviously, add them to the list of deadly animals.

You can add kangaroo, emu, cassowary, and koala to the list of deadly animals while you're at it.

I'm not sure if anyone has been killed by a wombat but I wouldn't be surprised if a wombat has taken somebody out at some stage.

[Blackirish]

I hate when that happens.

[mad_as_he$$]

Wait! Kangaroo’s are well known killers from way back.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Don't forget to add rabbits, too

[MaryFromMichigan]

Anteaters...have toothless snouts...their long, knife-like claws can do serious damage....

Sounds like the Freddie Kruger of the animal kingdom.
Weird and awful way for a person to go.

[sittnick]

It looks like she was a member of Greenpeace.

link

[ca centered]

Poor girl mauled to death. 19 years old is too young. RIP

[speedy]

Aardvarks can be terrifying if they are provoked. And never try to handle a dik-dik by yourself.

[MarkL]

Yikes! They use those claws to open up ant hills and termite mounds that can be nearly as hard as concrete!

People forget that even if a wild animal isn’t a predator, they are capable of defending themselves, and will do so. And we can’t always predict when.

Mark

[Drawsing]

Don’t forget Ostriches. I recall the story a few years back of the elderly ostrich keeper who was kicked to death.