By A family outing took an unexpected turn when a giraffe accidentally lifted a toddler from the back of a truck during a drive-thru safari experience at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas. Jason Toten, 24, and his fiancé, Sierra Robert, 23, were enjoying a family day with their children on Saturday when the incident occurred.
As the family admired the animals and encouraged their two-year-old daughter, Paisley, to feed a giraffe from her hand, the giraffe accidentally used its teeth to grab the toddler’s shirt, lifting her into the air. Sierra reacted quickly, grabbing Paisley as she was pulled up by the giraffe. A stern “hey” from Sierra caused the animal to realize its mistake and drop the uninjured toddler back into the car.
Jason admitted that the incident scared him, but once they realized everyone was safe and unharmed, they were able to laugh about it. He understood that the giraffe had intended to grab the food bag from Paisley’s hands, but accidentally caught her shirt instead.
Despite the scare, Paisley remained unfazed and even requested a giraffe toy and T-shirt from the gift shop after the incident. The family does not blame the park or the giraffe for what happened, and they plan to return to Fossil Rim in the future.
However, in response to the viral video of the incident, Fossil Rim announced a new policy on Wednesday, prohibiting guests from riding in the bed of pick-up trucks during the drive-thru safari experience.
Sierra has faced criticism online from viewers who labeled her a “bad mom” for allowing her daughter to ride in the back of the truck. In response, she posted a lengthy statement on her Facebook profile, defending her parenting choices and emphasizing that dangers exist everywhere, regardless of the activity or location. She refuses to teach her child to be afraid of experiencing the world, and she does not blame the park or the giraffe for the incident.
The mother explained that she had never visited a safari before and assumed it would be safe since the park allowed guests to ride in the bed of their trucks. She also shared that she grew up riding in the back of her family’s truck and believes many others have done the same.
While the incident may have been alarming, it serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and the unpredictable nature of wild animals, even in controlled environments like drive-thru safari parks.
Credit: Dailymail.com
