Two-year-old girl savaged in horror attack by tapir at Dublin Zoo

A two-year-old girl and her mother were mauled by a Brazilian tapir during a day out at Dublin Zoo.

They are recovering in hospital after the attack during a supervised visit within an enclosure.

According to Sky News, the girl's mother was injured when she tried to save her child.

A first aid team immediately attended to the mother and child.

A spokesperson for Dublin Zoo told the Irish Times: "Management at the zoo has launched an investigation into this regrettable occurrence and is reviewing all of its procedures with respect to supervised animal visits.

"Dublin Zoo would like to underline this was very much an isolated incident. We would also like to emphasise that our immediate concern is the health and wellbeing of the visitors involved in this accident.

"The staff of Dublin Zoo is deeply upset by this incident and we reiterate strongly that their upmost concern lies with the visitors and their speedy recovery."

The Brazilian tapir is a relative of the horse and rhinoceros and can weigh up to 250kg.

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