Zoo escapes conviction over tapir attack

€5,000 payment to charities after normally docile animal mauls toddler in supervised ‘close encounter’

Dublin Zoo has paid €5,000 to charities and has been spared a criminal conviction for a terrifying incident in which a two-year-old girl was mauled by a Brazilian tapir.

Judge John O’Neill was given confirmation yesterday at Dublin District Court that the zoo had complied with his order in October to donate €2,500 to the Jack and Jill Foundation and the same amount to LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.