Child dies after falling into Pittsburgh zoo exhibit, mauled by African painted dogs

PITTSBURGH - Officials say a young child died after falling into an exhibit at the Pittsburgh zoo and being mauled by African painted dogs.

Tracy Gray of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium said the accident happened at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

Zoo president and CEO Barbara Baker says the child was about three years old and fell about 14 feet into the exhibit.

She says there were 11 dogs in the enclosure and some attacked the child, but it hasn't been determined whether the child died of the fall or the attack.

The zoo says on its website that the animals, whose scientific name is Lycaon pictus, are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, two to 2 1/2 feet high and 37 to 80 pounds. They are considered endangered.