Zookeeper arranged visit for family mauled by tapir

The family at the centre of the tapir attack which left a two-year-old girl with severe injuries was allowed into the animal’s enclosure because they were personal friends of the zookeeper.

Sources confirmed the connection as an internal inquiry at Dublin Zoo into what caused the shocking scenes continues to examine the scandal.

It is understood the family, who are originally from Limerick but are living in Dublin, were regular visitors to the zoo and organised the visit through a friend of a friend of the zookeeper.

It is unclear whether this process followed zoo safety protocols, or whether any waiver or health and safety document outlining the potential risks involved was signed before the trip took place.

The girl who was mauled by the normally docile animal is still recovering at Temple Street Children’s Hospital after undergoing intensive surgery on Thursday evening.

Among her injuries was a deep bite to her arm which removed some of the girl’s muscles and tore off skin further up the body — a process known as degloving, despite the fact it did not affect her hand. The toddler also suffered significant abdominal wounds.

However, despite reports to the contrary, sources said the little girl’s internal organs were not damaged.

The girl’s mother is understood to have been released from hospital yesterday after she was treated at the Mater in Dublin.

She is believed to be making a full recovery after suffering less serious injuries during the attack.

A key part of the inquiry is believed to focus on whether policies on visitors being allowed into close proximity with the animals were in place or followed by those in charge of the family’s zoo trip.

The investigation is expected to be complete within the next week, although it is likely the document may not be made available until next Monday due to complications with interviewing everyone involved in the incident.

Investigators are also examining the possibility the female adult Brazilian tapir Rio became aggressive over concerns about the safety of her calf, which was born just over a month ago.

The last known zoo attack involving a tapir saw an Oklahoma zoo keeper lose her arm from the mid-bicep area when the animal’s newborn was in close proximity.