# Triple pitting: Asshole kid, parents, and zoo officials **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2006, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904 "2006-02-24T07:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/21 "2006-02-24T15:24:45Z")
> [@Hamadryad](#): > > It’s not [exactly a zoo](http://www.maymont.org/animals/index.asp), so comparing it to other zoos really isn’t going to be accurate. Huh. I see that under the title “Wildlife Exhibits” that they have “carefully designed habitats that are home to a variety of species now or once native to Virginia”. But they’re also trying to be a “Children’s Farm” and “Nature Center”, too. It sounds to me like they’re trying to be too many things at once and not doing a very good job of it. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/22 "2006-02-24T15:34:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I don’t blame the kid at all. He’s 4 years old - that’s what they do. You might as well blame the bears for mauling him. His parents, though, should have kept an eye on him. > > The real culprits are the zoo administrators. and not just for putting down the bears. Who designs a security system that a _four-year-old_ can circumnavigate? If the zoo had been built properly, there’s no way that anyone could have gotten that close to the animals, and if they knew it had its weak points, there should have been someone there to keep an eye on things. I’ve been going to Maymont Park since I was a baby. Sometimes with friends, sometimes with school trips, sometimes with just my parents and my brother. I’ve taken small children there. I’ve taken four-year-olds there. I have never felt like there’s any kind of a chance for the animals to get out of their habitat, and I have never, ever felt threatened by any of them. It’s always been a safe, easy, wonderful way to see these animals. Amazingly, none of us ever attempted to climb in with the damn bears. Maymont is a beautiful park and the wildlife there is wonderful. Something like this could totally fuck it up for everyone else - this could get the animals removed completely. And I place the full blame on the parents - there is NO REASON a four-year-old should have gotten over the wooden fence and to the chain-link. Yeah, I probably sound passionate about it because I have always loved Maymont Park - and I look forward to taking my own child there when she’s a little older. And I worry that behavior like this could ruin that chance. I’ve seen these two bears. And it breaks my heart that they had to be put down because of irresponsible behavior. E. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/23 "2006-02-24T15:53:12Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Huh. I see that under the title “Wildlife Exhibits” that they have “carefully designed habitats that are home to a variety of species now or once native to Virginia”. But they’re also trying to be a “Children’s Farm” and “Nature Center”, too. > > It sounds to me like they’re trying to be too many things at once and not doing a very good job of it. As the Children’s Farm is not next to the bears and the Nature Center is not next to the chickens, I’m not sure where you come up with this. They also have Japanese Gardens, Italian Gardens, and historic buildings and reenactments. Might SOUND like damned near anything to you, but to someone who’s been there you SOUND like an shithead. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/24 "2006-02-24T16:00:16Z")
> [@Hamadryad](#): > > As the Children’s Farm is not next to the bears and the Nature Center is not next to the chickens, I’m not sure where you come up with this. > > They also have Japanese Gardens, Italian Gardens, and historic buildings and reenactments. From what little I’ve read in this thread, it sounded like maybe they had bit off a bit more than they could chew. But hey, I could be wrong. I never claimed to be perfect. Feel free to post more that shows that I’m wrong. > [@Hamadryad](#): > > Might SOUND like damned near anything to you, but to someone who’s been there you SOUND like an shithead. Sigh. I guess this is the pit, so people feel the need to curse and be rude. OK, OK, so you don’t feel too bad about it: Fuck you, asshole. Fuck you, fuck your mama, fuck your daddy, and fuck your whole goddamned motherfucking backwoods redneck inbred shit-eating family. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/25 "2006-02-24T16:20:59Z")
I believe they need to put the bears down to test for rabies-the only way to do so is to examine the brain, correct? Damned fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/26 "2006-02-24T16:36:28Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I believe they need to put the bears down to test for rabies-the only way to do so is to examine the brain, correct? While this true, who the fuck cares? Give the kid a round of rabies innoculations and be done with it. Being repeatedly jabbed with needles will teach the brat not to go climbing into zoo exhibits. Paying the doctor’s bill will teach the idiot parents to keep an eye on their pwecious pookums. The publicity from all this will teach the zoo or park or educational farm or whatever they want to call themselves to make their exhibits more secure. Object lessons all around. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/27 "2006-02-24T16:39:26Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > From what little I’ve read in this thread, it sounded like maybe they had bit off a bit more than they could chew. But hey, I could be wrong. I never claimed to be perfect. Feel free to post more that shows that I’m wrong. I can’t post anything other than anecdotal knowledge, but it’s anecdotal knowledge going back 30 years and the wildlife area has been around for almost 50 years. They’ve had the same security for the habitats in place as long as I can remember. I can’t remember one story where there’s been a child injured - not that there couldn’t have been, but Maymont is such an institution in Richmond that I can’t see where people wouldn’t remember something like that. Maybe there is a little defensiveness in some of the posts, but I suspect it’s because we’ve been to Maymont and it’s extremely special to us. And one stupid incident like this could jeopardize the entire park. I did just call my mom about it (she still lives in Richmond), and she’s said that the matter is still being investigated - there’s talk about bringing charges against the parents. And people are pissed at the zoo officials, but they had to go by regulations, which meant putting the bears down. I can’t be too angry at the officials at this point, if they had to follow regulations. E. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/28 "2006-02-24T16:44:59Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > While this true, who the fuck cares? Give the kid a round of rabies innoculations and be done with it. Being repeatedly jabbed with needles will teach the brat not to go climbing into zoo exhibits. Paying the doctor’s bill will teach the idiot parents to keep an eye on their pwecious pookums. The publicity from all this will teach the zoo or park or educational farm or whatever they want to call themselves to make their exhibits more secure. Object lessons all around. Uh, I don’t think it’s safe for the zoo to keep a rabid animal around. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/29 "2006-02-24T16:47:08Z")
> [@light strand](#): > > When he asked what happened, it turned out that the parents of a ~4 year-old child thought it would be “cool” to get a photo of said child on the back of a bear cub. Yes, you read that right. A child’s parents placed said child on the back of a wild black bear, because they thought it would be “cool”. The bear didn’t particularly cotton to this, and knocked the kid off, and basically scratched him. They were minor wounds. Jesus H. Keerist, where was the bear’s mother. I was under the impression that this type of behavior would result in some very bad maulings all around. That has to be some of the best stupidity I’ve heard of for a while. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/30 "2006-02-24T16:49:03Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Uh, I don’t think it’s safe for the zoo to keep a rabid animal around. Sure, and if a bear displayed symptoms of rabies it wold be put down immediately. But the only reason they’re testing the bears at all is because the kid got bitten. If either bear actually has rabies (highly unlikely), and if the kid hadn’t been bitten, they wouldn’t have found out until the bear became symptomatic anyway. As you correctly point out, there’s no way to test a live bear for rabies. By your logic, every live bear in captivity should be killed and tested for rabies. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/31 "2006-02-24T16:49:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Uh, I don’t think it’s safe for the zoo to keep a rabid animal around. So, they should kill all their animals to test for rabies? If not, then what’s your point? Just because the bear bit some dumbass kid who wandered into its territory doesn’t mean it’s more likely to to have rabies than any of the other animals. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/32 "2006-02-24T16:56:58Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Jesus H. Keerist, where was the bear’s mother. I was under the impression that this type of behavior would result in some very bad maulings all around. Well, despite rumors to contrary, although bear mothers can get quite cranky, they would really rather not tangle with humans. So the mother backed off when the people started messing her cub. Basically she was waiting in the wings while the Park Rangers were forced to shoot her offspring due to the stupidity of humans. Just so you know there was quite a ferocious fight about the appropriateness of the shooting, but they were not given a choice. It is dangerous for this bear to have such close contact with human, and it could have developed into a “problem bear”. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/33 "2006-02-24T17:03:08Z")
The news just came in that the bears were both negative for rabies. Gee, what a surprise. An evil part me kind of wishes they had tested positive, and the kid made to have the series of rabies shots. Would have served them right. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/34 "2006-02-24T17:05:47Z")
Absolutely I blame the kid, although more so the kid’s parents. And I think it’s awful that the bears had to be put down, but it seems to be standard procedure. I don’t make the rules, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/35 "2006-02-24T17:11:24Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > The news just came in that the bears were both negative for rabies. Gee, what a surprise. An evil part me kind of wishes they had tested positive, and the kid made to have the series of rabies shots. Would have served them right. Lovely. Personally, I think the parents ought to be charged with child endangerment. E. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/36 "2006-02-24T17:13:53Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > Personally, I think the parents ought to be charged with child endangerment. According to the news, this is still a possibility, although it hasn’t happened as of yet. I hope they ARE charged with something. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/37 "2006-02-24T17:19:16Z")
I wish abject stupidity was illegal. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/38 "2006-02-24T17:35:55Z")
> [@Giant\_Spongess](#): > > I wish abject stupidity was illegal. Were that true, those not incarcerated could ill afford the cost of jailing the masses. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/39 "2006-02-24T17:37:30Z")
Coming down a bit hard on a 4 year old, aren’t we? Kid has probably been brought up with teddy bears, and winnie the pooh, and all sorts of other cute and cuddly bear toys/stories. It’s the parent’s job to teach that wild animals are to be kept at a distance. If anything, both parents should get a round of 1920’s style rabies shots, just in case… And charged with child endangerment, and charged with all costs surrounding the incident, and… well something else too, but I can’t think of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904/40 "2006-02-24T17:41:31Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Were that true, those not incarcerated could ill afford the cost of jailing the masses. And we’d lose about ¼ of the Doper population. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-pitting-asshole-kid-parents-and-zoo-officials/345904.md?page=3)