The mother of a 2-year-old boy fatally mauled in a wild African dogs exhibit is to blame for her son’s death and shouldn’t be allowed to sue, a zoo has claimed in court.

The president of a zoo where a two-year-old boy fell into an enclosure and was mauled to death by African wild dogs said it had met or exceeded safety standards, proving that no exhibit was "fail-proof".

Officials say a boy died after falling into an exhibit at the Pittsburgh zoo and being mauled by African painted dogs.