11 Most Bizarre Zoo Accidents

11. Melody The Tapir Bites Off Arm Of Zookeeper (Oklahoma City, 1998)

On a list of animals humans should be most wary of, it's safe to say that the pig-like tapir would be a fair way down - yet Melody was not a beast to be messed with. At Oklahoma City Zoo in the USA in November 1998, the Malayan tapir was being fed by zookeeper Lisa Morehead when she went berserk. With the zookeeper holding out her arm to hand over the food, Melody proceeded to chomp away at part of her limb. Although the zookeeper fought back, she was overpowered and the tapir caused severe injuries to her face - as well as puncturing her lung and injuring other vital internal organs - and her arm was torn off and destroyed beyond recognition. It appears that Melody - who had given birth just two months previously - feared for the safety of her baby, and was attempting to protect her offspring. Mother's really will do anything to protect their children.