Additional safety measures are being installed at Little Rock Zoo exhibits, including at one where a boy suffered serious injuries after he fell in and was attacked by a jaguar nearly two years ago.
Throughout the exhibits for jaguars, lions and tigers, chain-link wire netting will act as an extra barrier, running from the base of the viewing area to the top of wood-covered walkways, zoo spokesman Susan Altrui said.
As for the possibility of falling into the jaguar exhibit after the installation of netting, Altrui said: "It would be virtually impossible. You would really have to want to get into this exhibit to get into it."
The wire for the netting is manufactured in a way that allows it to bear a substantial amount of weight while not inhibiting a zoo visitor's ability to see animals, Altrui said.
A boy, 3 years old at the time, fell into the jaguar exhibit Oct. 10, 2014, leading to injuries that included a skull fracture and minor puncture wounds.
Work on netting at the jaguar exhibit is finished, though installation work at the lion and tiger exhibits is ongoing, Altrui said.
Chain-link netting also is being installed at the 33-acre zoo's cheetah, gorilla and chimpanzee exhibits.
Before the safety upgrades, metal bars acted as a barrier to prevent visitors from falling into many of the enclosures. They remain in addition to the netting.
In October, Little Rock adopted a resolution to allocate no more than $342,000 for the installation of safety barriers at the big cat, great ape and cheetah exhibits. Dayco Construction Inc. submitted the lowest bid for the project at $285,000.
The zoo's Asian elephants exhibit also has received safety upgrades, primarily to prevent the elephants from harming keepers and visitors.
Altrui said the overall goal was to align with revised safety standards in place for zoos affiliated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Taller bollards, or vertical posts, that met association standards were installed around the elephant exhibit's perimeter fence at a height of 8 feet -- 2 feet above the previous height. Keepers are also now able to walk the full length of the perimeter outside the fence as part of protected-contact training, Altrui said.
Most of that work was completed in December, though painting is ongoing, Altrui said.
About $90,240 was set aside in September by the city for upgrades at the elephant exhibit, according to a resolution. The city accepted a bid of $75,200 from Dayco Construction Inc. for the project.
State Desk on 02/10/2016