Animal sanctuary operator attacked and killed by rescued camel
A camel (not this one) bit a baby on the head at a circus in France, according to a local newspaper. (Getty Images)
A 60-year-old US man is dead after being attacked by a rescued camel at his animal sanctuary in Mexico.
Former Chicago-man Richard Michael Meleski was killed by the 600kg camel when it turned on him on Monday at the Tulum Monkey Sanctuary on the Yukatan Peninsula in southern Mexico.
The male dromedary camel bit and kicked Mr Meleski before knocking him to the ground and sitting on him.
Hearing Mr Meleski's cries for help, one of the sanctuary workers rushed to free him but could not get the animal to move.
Worker Manuel Jesus Medina Aldana had to use a rope attached to a truck to pull the camel off the stricken animal lover.
Mr Meleski was then carried to his home but later died.
Mexico Daily News reports the camel, recently brought to the shelter from a circus, might have been suffering from severe stress.
Mr Meleski had operated the sanctuary, home to monkeys rescued from illegal wildlife trading and habitat loss, since 2012.
The American had been rescuing animals for the past 15 years.
Source: Mexico Daily News
Author: Nicholas McCallum, Approving editor: Martin Zavan
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