Toddler mauled by tapir released from hospital

The two-year-old who suffered severe injuries when she was mauled by a tapir at Dublin Zoo has been released from hospital.

The girl left Temple Street Children’s University Hospital on Thursday afternoon after spending a week recovering from serious injuries inflicted during the attack.

The toddler, who was with her mother in the animal’s enclosure when they were both mauled, was rushed to the hospital on Aug 8.

She had lost a significant amount of blood, was unconscious, had skin and muscles ripped from her arm, and suffered a deep, six-inch abdominal wound.

However, after a number of emergency surgeries, the girl was reported to be stable last weekend.

After being kept in for further observation, she was released from Temple Street on Thursday and is said to be recovering well.

The exact reason why the tapir attacked the toddler, who is originally from Limerick, is still being investigated by zoo officials.

It is understood a detailed investigation into the attack will be published early next week by the zoo.

The child was mauled during a “close encounter” visit in the adult female tapir’s enclosure, which also contained the tapir’s weeks-old calf.

The girl’s mother was injured when she intervened to save her daughter.

It is still unclear whether the family signed any waiver or health and safety form outlining the potential risks involved in entering the animal’s enclosure before the attack occurred.

While tapirs are normally docile animals, they have been known to become aggressive in enclosed spaces. In 1998, a zookeeper in the US lost her arm after being mauled.