Child bitten by sloth at NC safari park, USDA inspection report says
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- A sloth bit a child on the face during a public interaction at Aloha Safari Park.
- USDA inspection found the park failed to provide appropriate distance or barriers.
- Aloha Safari Park stopped public sloth interactions and placed the sloth in quarantine.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture called for enforced barriers between animals and guests at a Harnett County zoo after a sloth bit a child on the face, according to an inspection report filed last month.
According to the USDA report on April 8, Aloha Safari Park in Cameron was hosting a public interaction event with the sloths when an attendant placed the sloth into the child’s lap.
The facility allows for these kinds of interactions with the sloths, the report stated, but guests are advised to keep their faces away from the animals.
A manager told the USDA that the attendant was answering a question from the parent when the child leaned in to kiss or hug the sloth. The sloth bit the child on the face, leaving a small wound on her chin, the report states.
It’s unclear when exactly the incident occurred or how old the child was.
The USDA wrote in the report — which was conducted as part of a routine inspection — that Aloha Safari Park failed to provide appropriate distance or a barrier between the public and the sloth to protect the public in the incident.
“During public exhibition, any animal must be handled so there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and to the public, with sufficient distance and/or barriers between the animal and the general viewing public so as to assure the safety of animals and the public,” the report states.
The USDA set a deadline of April 20 to “correct” the incident, the report states.
Aloha Safari Park declined to comment on Friday. According to the report, the facility has discontinued “public interactions with the sloth” and the sloth has been placed in quarantine.
The zoo, located off N.C. 87 near Fayetteville, is a 66-acre home to hundreds of species of animals. The park offers walk-around exhibits and drive-through sections of the park showcasing animals such as giraffes, spider monkeys, lemurs and alligators.
The zoo also currently offers animal feeding, according to their website.
