‘Loose’ camel attacks and kills two at petting zoo, Tennessee officials say
Two people are dead after a camel attack at a petting zoo in Tennessee, according to authorities.
The deadly incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at Shirley Farms in Obion, Tennessee, the sheriff’s office announced in a news release.
Deputies responded to a call of a “loose” camel in the area and arrived to find “two unconscious victims on the ground.”
Both succumbed to their injuries and died at the scene, authorities said.
While trying to move one of the victims to EMS, deputies said the animal attacked an Obion Sheriff’s Office patrol car and then charged at the deputies.
“It was at this time officers had to put the camel down for the safety of everyone on scene,” the release states.
Authorities have identified the victims as Bobby Matheny, 42, of Ridgely and Tommy Gunn, 67, of Obion.
McClatchy News reached out to Shirley Farms for comment on Friday, March 11, and was awaiting a response.
It’s unclear what type of camel was involved in the attack, but roughly 90% of the world’s camels are dromedary, or Arabian camels, according to PBS.org. The single-humped mammals are typically domesticated, stand about 6.6 feet tall at shoulder height and can weigh up to 1,320 pounds.
Obion is about 100 miles northeast of Memphis.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 8:12 AM with the headline "‘Loose’ camel attacks and kills two at petting zoo, Tennessee officials say."