Latest news with #5StarFarm
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- The Guardian
Man died of ‘blunt force injuries' at US zoo after suspected kangaroo fight
Officials in South Carolina are investigating the death of a man who was believed to have been killed while fighting a kangaroo in an enclosure at a children's petting zoo. Eric Slate, 52, died of 'multiple blunt [force] injuries', according to Tamara Willard, the chief deputy coroner of Horry county, as reported by WPDE News. Local officials said Slate, brother of 5 Star Farm's owner, Robert Slate, liked to enter the enclosure containing kangaroos and wallabies and 'roughhouse' with a kangaroo named Jack. Mark Causey, a Horry council member, told Newsweek that the animal was not euthanized, and that inspectors would visit the farm this week to look at the enclosure and assess conditions at the zoo. A tribute posted to Facebook on Monday by Robert Slate featured a series of photographs of a man identified as Eric engaging with a kangaroo of almost the same height. 'Your memory will live on, your voice will be heard, and Jack (your buddy, the kangaroo) will be fine,' he wrote. 'My brother, my friend, my rock, you left us with a smile on your face that won't be forgotten.' A statement from the Horry county police department, posted to Facebook, said Slate's death happened on Friday, close to midnight. 'The death investigation remains active and ongoing,' the statement said. 'The deceased was located within an enclosure with wallabies and kangaroos of varying ages.' 'There are a number of other animals at the incident location. All animals are accounted for and contained, and there is no risk to the community.' A further statement from the farm's owners stated that the kangaroo 'was not nor has been out of his secure enclosure', and that the family-owned facility 'has been dedicated to providing a safe and enriching environment for animals and visitors alike'. According to its website, the farm offers interactive animal experiences including a petting zoo, camel and pony rides, birthday parties and gem mining. Fatal human-animal encounters are rare at petting zoos in the US, but they are not entirely unheard of. In 2022, a camel was euthanized after escaping its enclosure at Shirley Farms in Obion county, Tennessee, and fatally trampling two men.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man 'beaten to death by kangaroo' after trying to 'roughhouse' animal
Officials from Horry County, South Carolina, have suggested Eric Slate - who was known to 'roughhouse' with animals - died following an altercation with a kangaroo A man who allegedly liked to "roughhouse" kangaroos may have been killed by one of the animals after he clambered into their enclosure at a petting zoo. Eric Slate was found dead in an enclosure "with wallabies and kangaroos of varying ages" at 5-Star Farm in Horry County, South Carolina, following what local police said was an "animal-related incident" between a "non-domesticated animal and adult relative (of the animal's owner)". The coroner's office for Horry County confirmed that the victim was found with "multiple blunt injuries" inside the enclosure, and a local councilman has alleged a kangaroo was "directly involved" in his death. Local medial outlet News 13 reported that Harris County councilman Dennis DiSabito suggested the kangaroo was involved in the death, but authorities have not indicated whether this is the case. Another councilmember, Mark Causey, told the outlet Mr slate had a "history" of stepping into the kangaroo enclosure and "roughhousing" with the animal. He added this is what was happening at the time of his death, adding the interaction "just went south". In his own statement, Robert Slate, the owner of 5 Star Farm, said only that the incident was a "tragic accident". The statement, posted on the farm's social media page, read: "Robert Slate, owner of 5 Star Farm, wishes to address a tragic incident involving a family member that occurred at the farm on the evening of May 9. Horry County Coroner has ordered an autopsy to determine cause of death, due to the fact, the victim was found in an animal enclosure." The statement added, however, that the farm's resident kangaroo had not exited its "secure enclosure". It continued: "The animal was not nor has been out of his secure enclosure. At this time we do ask, for respect and support for the family." Horry County Police Department confirmed following the incident over the weekend that there was no risk to the general public, with the investigation "active and ongoing". The department said: "The death investigation remains active and ongoing. "The deceased was located within an enclosure with wallabies and kangaroos of varying ages. There are a number of other animals at the incident location. All animals are accounted for and contained, and there is no risk to the community." The South Carolina farm functions as an interactive petting zoo, the farm states on its official Facebook account, adding that its animals include camels, wallabies and kangaroos. In a previous post on the page, the farm introduced "Mr Jack" a five-year-old kangaroo that "loves neck scratches and will take treats from your hand". The kangaroo alleged to have been involved in the death of Mr Slate has not been named.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- The Sun
Petting zoo worker beaten to death by KANGAROO after climbing into its pen to ‘roughouse' with animal
A ZOO worker has been battered to death by a kangaroo - after he climbed into its pen to "roughhouse" with it. Eric Slate's beaten up body was discovered just before midnight on Friday at 5-Star Farm near Loris, South Carolina, according to cops. 1 Slate, who was the brother of the petting zoo owner, had a "history" of stepping into the enclosure with the animal according to local media. .
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man found dead in kangaroo, wallaby enclosure reportedly had 'history' of playing rough with animal
A man found dead with multiple blunt force injuries in a kangaroo and wallaby enclosure reportedly had a "history" of entering the space to play rough with one of the animals. The man — identified by officials as 52-year-old Eric Slate — was a relative of the animal's owner. He was killed on Friday evening in the fatal encounter that took place at 5 Star Farm, a South Carolina petting zoo located around 30 miles from Myrtle Beach, according to Fox Carolina. The animal believed to be responsible for Slate's death has not been euthanized, Horry County Councilmember Mark Causey told News13. Young Kangaroo Hops Around Florida Town After Brazen Escape, Owner Charged The 5 Star Farm petting zoo — which has events listed on its website dating back more than 15 years — features animals like camels, ponies, llamas and more, according to its website. Read On The Fox News App Florida Man, 89, And His Dog Mauled To Death By Black Bear In State's First Fatal Attack "The animal was not nor has been out of his secure enclosure," Robert Slate, owner of 5 Star Farm, wrote on Facebook. "At this time we do ask for respect and support for the family." The investigation is currently ongoing, and an autopsy has been ordered, according to Horry County Police. Pet Raccoon Caught With Meth Pipe In Its Mouth When Cops Pulled Over Ohio Woman: 'Expect The Unexpected' "There are a number of other animals at the incident location," Horry County Police said in a Facebook post. "All animals are accounted for and contained, and there is no risk to the community." The Horry County Police Department, the Horry County Coroner's Office and 5 Star Farm did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Man found dead in kangaroo, wallaby enclosure reportedly had 'history' of playing rough with animal
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Not aggressive': Petting zoo worker killed after ‘rough-housing' with kangaroo
The brother of a South Carolina petting zoo owner was apparently beaten to death by a kangaroo after possibly going into the Aussie animal's pen to 'rough-house' with it, authorities said. Eric Slate's body was discovered inside the facility just before midnight on Friday night at 5-Star Farm near Loris — about 30 miles north of Myrtle Beach, the Horry County Coroner's Office said. Slate, 52, had a 'history' of stepping into the kangaroo enclosure and 'rough-housing' with it, which is what was happening at the time of his death, local council member Mark Causey told News13. 'It just went south,' he said. The kangaroo was still in its enclosure at the family-owned farm when Slate's body was found. The farm recently posted a picture of a large red kangaroo named Mr Jack, adding, 'He loves neck scratches and will take treats from your hands.' It's not clear which animal killed Slate, but he was found with 'multiple blunt force injuries.' Adult male red kangaroos can weigh nearly 90kg and grow up to 1.8m tall, with powerful feet for kicking. In 2022, an elderly man was killed by his pet kangaroo in Western Australia, but that was believed to be the first time a roo killed a person in nearly 90 years in the country. However, plenty more deaths have been caused by kangaroos in road crashes, which has led to fatalities. 5-Star Farm offers an interactive petting zoo with exotic animals, including camels, wallabies and kangaroos, owner Robert Slate wrote in a Facebook post. 'Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers,' he said. The kangaroo is not aggressive and has not been euthanized, Causey added. 'It's not an aggressive animal. It's very sad … It was not the animal's fault,' he said. Experts are coming in this week to ensure the enclosure is safe and the animal is OK, he said. South Carolina has some of the loosest restrictions in the US on the ownership of exotic animals. It is one of only three states where kangaroo ownership isn't prohibited.
