A 2-year old toddler fell into the cheetah exhibit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo after his mother dangled him over a 12-foot deep cheetah pit.

Cleveland Fire Department Spokesperson Larry Gray said the boy is now in stable condition after being treated with minor bumps and bruises that he sustained from the fall.

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According to the investigation, the parents and the child went into the zoo and watched he cheetah's exhibit.  The mother dangled the child over the cheetah's pit when the child accidentally slipped out of her grasp and fell into the pit.

Gray added that the mother was holding another child when the boy slipped from her hold. The boy was rescued by paramedics and firefighters who immediately responded to the incident. He was transported to the Metro Health Medical Center for treatment.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Executive Director Chris Kuhar said the boy has a leg injury, which was caused by the fall. Kuhar stresse that the boy's injuries were not caused by the cheetahs as they never interacted with the boy when he fell into the pit.

"The cheetahs made no attempt to interact with the child and parents at any time," said Kuhar.

Witnesses cited that they heard screams when the boy fell into the cheetah's pen.

"[I] was looking at the cheetahs and, then, all I hear is the screams," said one of the witnesses, Michael Lurie. "Everything happened so quick."

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo management is planning to press charges against the parents for endangering the life of their child.

The cheetah exhibit, which houses two male cheetahs, was also temporarily closed during the remainder of the day.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a 183-acre property which houses different animals. It is one of the most visited spots in Cleveland.

TagsCleveland Metroparks Zoo, cheetah