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Kangaroo Kills Zoo Employee Who Wanted to “Rough House” with the Animal

Incident Date:
05/09/2025
Location:
Myrtle Beach, SC - USA
Facility Name:
5 Star Farm
Facility Type:
Non-accredited Facility (RSZ)
Incident Category:
Escape/Attack resulting in human death (HD)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Kangaroo
Animal disposition:
Other

Summary:

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – A 56-year-old zoo employee who was known to “roughhouse” with a kangaroo was found dead in their enclosure last week. Eric Slate, who worked at 5 Star Farm, a small park outside of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was found dead Friday night, May 9, in the kangaroo and wallaby pen at the petting zoo owned by his brother. Horry County Councilman Mark Causey told The Post & Courier that Slate had a history of playing rough with the animal and was believed to have been doing that at the time of his death. Authorities have ordered an autopsy to determine Slate’s cause of death.

The owners of 5 Star Farms said on Facebook that the kangaroo is not aggressive. They do not want to euthanize the animal, and South Carolina officials do not plan to force them to, The Post & Courier reported.  A kangaroo expert is expected to visit 5 Star Farm this week to verify that the animal is OK and the enclosure is safe.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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