Death by Camel

Camel kills two men after escape from Tennessee petting zoo

"The 'orse he knows above a bit; the bullock's but a fool

The elephant's a gentleman; the battery mule's a mule.

But the commissariat camel, when all is said and done,

He's a devil an' a ostrich an' a orphan child in one."

- Rudyard Kipling

Police responded to a report of an escaped dromedary camel from Shirley Farm petting zoo in Tennessee.  Upon arrival, two men were found unconscious at the scene, with the camel still on the loose and behaving aggressively.   Police were forced to destroy the animal so that medical personnel could get to the fallen men; unfortunately, both succumbed to their injuries and died. 

Dromedary (one-humped) camels are domesticated; there are no true wild ones left in the world, though some feral, introduced ones in Australia.  They are so common in petting zoos, farms, and riding experiences that it's easy for us to forget how big and potentially dangerous they can be.  I've had to run (if not for my life and at least for avoiding a severe maiming) from an angry bull dromedary before.  While millions of people around the world live and work in close proximity to camels, security needs to minded carefully to prevent accidents like this from occurring.  It's been noted that the facility in question has had compliance issues with animal care in the past, though I'm as of yet unsure whether those contributed to the escape and attacks.

Condolences to the families of the victims of this tragedy.