A family's trip to the safari park ended in terror after a two-year-old was grabbed out of the car by a giraffe.
Living in the US means that being able to go on a safari involves taking a long journey to Africa.
While the States are blessed with some amazing wildlife, the rest of the world is home to many species that are pretty incredible.
For people in the US to see some of the most loved animals in the world like zebras, lions, and giraffes - it's a lot quicker and cheaper to head to a safari park than to travel across the Atlantic.
Despite the animals being in captivity, it should be noted that they are still living creatures that can cause harm... as one family found out.
The incident at Fossil Rim Safari Center near Glen Rose, Texas was recorded and has since gone viral.
The video shows Paisley, the toddler, being plucked into the air by the giraffe just moments after her mother, Sierra Robert, asked if she wanted to feed the animal.
Paisley's father, Jason Toten, recounted the startling event to NBC News.
"We weren't expecting the giraffe to pick up our daughter instead of the bag of food she was holding," Toten explained. "It was an accident and the giraffe didn’t mean to — it was just one of those things that happened."
Fortunately, Paisley was unharmed. The family continued their visit, stopping at the gift shop to buy Paisley a toy giraffe and a matching shirt.
"We're gonna revisit. We're not mad at the giraffe. We’re not mad at the park," Toten assured. "We’re still gonna encourage everybody else to go visit. It’s a great place to go, especially for toddlers or kids who really love animals."
In response to the incident, Fossil Rim Safari Center emphasized its commitment to guest and animal safety.
"Effective immediately, Fossil Rim will no longer be allowing guests to ride through the park in truck beds," the center announced in a statement on June 5.
"Fossil Rim offers a variety of experiences guided by knowledgeable staff so guests can continue to have up-close and memorable animal encounters and support our mission to save threatened and endangered species."
Toten expressed disappointment over the new rule. "We’re saddened to hear that they changed the rule to no riding in the back of the truck," he said.
