nation

The article says.."The boy's mother had picked him up and put him on top of a railing at the edge of a viewing deck". This makes you grid your teeth. The mother should be picked up, tossed over the railing into the pit as well. When are parents going to Learn! Stop putting kids on the rails. If they can't see, oh well. This mother killed her kid because she thought she knew best. Picked him up and put him on the rail. Well, let's give this mother the mother of the year award. I will venture a guess, she's going to sue the zoo for his death. No I can't sympathize with the mother. How many times have parents been Told Not to do this. The animals may have killed her son, but it was Her negligence that caused his death.

As with most things, this comes down to bad parenting. And being a parent myself? You'd bet your behind that I would be jumping over that wall to protect him immediately... not stand around and wait for help as wild animals attacked my child.

chanctob is absolutely right. Who would place a 2-year-old child on a railing in such a dangerous place? Especially without maintaining a hold on the child at the very least. Criminal negligence, plain and simple.

Absolutely heartbreaking to read this story. While we don't know the circumstances surrounding the Mom's decision to put her child up on the rail, the bottom line is that this child has died because of Mom's bad decision. I have two small children and yes, they beg to get on the rail at the zoo; I am very fearful of something like this happening, especially with the wiggly 3-year-old, and so have to be the bad Mommy and say "NO!" Do they hate me later? No. And, later, they are alive to tell me and their friends about the zoo. They probably forgot all about not getting to go on the rail... Very tragic and avoidable.

Another example of "the dumbing down" of America. Sad to say this, but this type of behavior happens far too often. The child now is in better care than this mother could ever give. Rest in peace little one.

As a former Volunteer at the Minnesota Zoo I can attest to the fact that some parents seem to have their heads up their butts when considering the safety of their children! Even sadder when alerted of the danger many parents will ignore the warning or argue that their children can do what they are doing and who am I to warn them. A very sad story here, the poor child pays with his life for either his mothers inattention or stupidity!