Saturday, May 7, 2011
Update

The 7-year-old boy who was hospitalized after being attacked by a leopard at the Sedgwick County Zoo has improved to "good" condition, according to a Via Christi Hospital spokesman.

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Friday, May 6, 2011

A 7-year-old boy is hospitalized after being attacked by a leopard at the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Dispatchers said the call came in just before 1:30.

Zoo officials said the boy climbed a guardrail to get closer to the leopard cage. The amur leopard was able to reach the child with both of its paws, clawing the boy on his neck. The boy suffered wounds on his neck and head.

The zoo official said people riding the zoo tram saw the attack, jumped off and scared the leopard away. John Delgado was one of those people. He said he kicked the leopard in the head. Delgado and a woman kept the boy calm until medical help arrived.

Via Christi on St. Francis reports that the child is now in fair condition.

Zoo officials do have the animal under control. There are no plans to euthanize the animal. It is being kept in its holding cage beneath the public display area.

According to a USD 259 spokesperson, the student was from Linwood Elementary School. His name has not been released.

The leopard, named Nia, is four years old.
For more on the type of animal, click here