Andean Condor Attack at Ohio Zoo
by Donald Sazdanoff
Saturday, August 21, 1999
On Saturday August 21 1999 at the Columbus Ohio Zoo an Andean Condor attacked a 2 year 11month-old girl during the morning session of the "Wings of Flight" bird show. While on display at the conclusion of the show the bird leapt of off its perch and attacked the little girl from behind who was standing approximately 25 to 30 feet away. The girl suffered three puncture wounds to her left shoulder and scratches on her right side ribs and stomach. She also suffered numerous scrapes and bruises on her hands and knees when she was knocked to the ground. Her 4 year 10 month old sister who was standing several feet away was narrowly missed by the bird but was visibly shaken by the attack. During the show the Condor had been difficult to control as it flew off of the stage with its handler in pursuit. After the show before it attacked the little girl it attempted to bite its handler as he was pointing out various features to the crowd who had gathered to get a closer look and ask questions. The crowd is allowed to stand within reaching distance of the Condor who is only restrained by a tether which is held by a handler. The Andean Condor is the worlds largest bird able to fly with a wing span of over 10 feet and weighs in excess of 40 pounds.
(
http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/anim...acks_girl.html)
The hummingbird, suprisingly, can be remarkably agressive, attacking other hummingbirds when competing for a food source.
Their flight speed in migration is about 25 MPH, but some males have been clocked at 63 MPH in dives, during aggression display flights. (
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring...werHummer.html)
What could be more frightening than a bald eagle spread-eagle? This!
Bird of ray
An bald eagle attacks 3-year-old Kayla Finn at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, USA. The beach-loving bald eagle, which has now been captured, terrorised beach-goers for over a week while it eluded state, federal and local wildlife officials' increasingly ingenious attempts to catch it. Kayla was quickly rescued from the bird by her father and was not seriously hurt.
Photo: Dave Lane, AP
(
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,8542,534471,00.html)
The jungle crow lives in inner Tokyo parks and gardens and in recent years has started to take the offensive. New behavioural patterns are emerging. Over 1,000 crow attacks were reported last year, some of which drew blood. People have been knocked off their bicycles, while mothers snatch up their children and run when they hear the bird cawing above them. (
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_...21&category=68)
Threaded Mode