Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala toured the African painted dog exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium Thursday. He and the zoo have decided to remove the observation deck at the exhibit.
The platform in question is the one from which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh fell last month. The boy, who had vision issues, leaned forward and fell into the exhibit after his mother lifted him onto a wooden rail overlooking the dogs' enclosure. Zappala announced last week the boy’s mother won't be prosecuted, calling the incident a "tragic accident."
The DA’s office continues to investigate the zoo's roll, and review whether anyone there contributed to the boy’s death, and how to prevent future accidents. In a statement, the Zoo said it is cooperating fully with the investigation.
