Ticked Off Eagle Tries to Carry Off Child During Wildlife Show

No matter how well trained wildlife may be, it’s important to remember they’re just that – wild.

Audience members at a popular wildlife show at the Alice Springs Desert Park in Australia discovered that first hand when a wedge-tailed eagle tried to fly away with a young boy on July 6.

As BBC News reported, the eagle tried to airlift the boy during the show. The crowd was understandably shocked when the bird “attempted to pick him up like a small animal.”

Christine O’Connell, an attendee of the show, captured pictures of the attack and posted one on Instagram, describing what she witnessed.

Not the sharpest photo but lucky just to snap it. At a nature park in Alice Springs we decided to go to a bird show the young boy in the green kept pulling his zipper up and down. For some reason the Wedge Tailed Eagle did not like it and instead of flying over to the log he is meant to for a photo opportunity he flew straight at the young boy and attacked him. The show was quickly cancelled and the boy taken off to first aid. Those talons are huge he was a very lucky young boy.

A photo posted by Chris | Australia Rural Vic (@55chris) on Jul 10, 2016 at 3:47am PDT

The boy, thought to be between the ages of six and eight, luckily walked away with only minor injuries. He was taken for medical treatment and is expected to be okay.

The park made a statement to NT News when contacted about the incident:

“On Wednesday, July 6, an incident occurred at the Alice Springs Desert Park where an eagle made contact with an audience member. A thorough investigation regarding the circumstances behind this incident is under way and the eagle will be removed from the show while this investigation is ongoing.”