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Goat scare in the petting enclosure: Woman demands 31,000 euros in compensation!
A woman is suing a bird park after an incident with goats in the petting enclosure in Stralsund. Court ruling expected on December 23rd.
Goat scare in the petting enclosure: Woman demands 31,000 euros in compensation!
Things get down to business in the Marlows bird park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: an incident in the petting enclosure is causing a legal stir. On July 12, 2023, a 63-year-old woman from the Wittenberg district was tripped by a goat while visiting, resulting in knee surgery and a long period of illness. Salus BKK, the health insurance company of those affected, has now filed a lawsuit against the bird park at the Stralsund regional court and is demanding over 31,000 euros in treatment costs and sick pay. Time reports.
The circumstances of the incident are controversial because while a holidaymaker said that the goat specifically ran towards the woman, the son-in-law says that the animals simply ran in a direction where the woman was standing. What was striking was that the goats were described as quite pushy, especially when it came to food. The lawsuit also mentions an aggressive billy goat, but the park's zoological director contradicts this claim and emphasizes that there are no male goats in the enclosure and that the animals are well cared for. African dwarf goats that live there are generally considered friendly animals.
Reports of animal cruelty cast shadows
The situation surrounding goats in the recreational animal sector is currently tense. In Bad Berleburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, unknown people placed prepared poison bait in a petting zoo, which has already led to the death of three goats. These baits, filled with apples and packaged in dangerous metal clips, were discovered on December 15th by a concerned animal lover. A connection between the bait and the deaths cannot be ruled out, and the Bad Berleburg Criminal Investigation Department has begun an investigation into suspected animal cruelty. Loud Westphalia West, similar cases have already been reported locally, although without official reports.
In summary, the image of goat keeping in petting zoos has changed as a result of these events. The judge in Stralsund will deal with the legal aspects of animal liability in accordance with Section 833 of the Civil Code. These regulations differentiate between luxury animals such as goats and farm animals. The decision in the Marlows Bird Park case is due to be announced on December 23rd. Whether these legal battles will affect visitors' trust in petting zoos remains to be seen.