A man in South Carolina, who owned a petting zoo, was reportedly killed by a kangaroo after entering its enclosure, according to officials. Eric Slate’s body was discovered late Friday at a five-star farm near Loris, about 30 miles north of Myrtle Beach, as noted by the Holly County Coroner’s Office.
The 52-year-old had a documented history of entering the kangaroo area and had previously engaged with the animals in a rough manner. He had expressed to local news that “it just went south” during one of those encounters.
Upon finding his body, authorities indicated he suffered “multiple blunt force injuries.” It’s unclear if the kangaroo responsible was one named Mr. Jack, recently featured in a social media post from the farm, which described him as fond of human interaction.
Kangaroos can weigh up to 200 pounds and are known for their powerful kicks. Notably, there was a tragic incident in 2022 in Western Australia when an elderly man was killed by a pet kangaroo, marking a rare occurrence of such an event in nearly 90 years.
The farm, which features an interactive petting zoo with various exotic animals, has seen a significant reaction to the incident. A family member provided a heartfelt request for thoughts and prayers for their family during this difficult time.
Experts are expected to assess the safety of the kangaroo enclosure following the incident, emphasizing that kangaroos are generally not aggressive animals. Notably, South Carolina maintains the least restrictive laws regarding exotic pet ownership in the U.S., being one of only three states where keeping kangaroos is legal.
