This article has been updated.
A tree limb fell and injured seven people at the San Antonio Zoo on Wednesday afternoon. They were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.
Two adults and four children were in stable condition at University Hospital as of 5 p.m., said University Health spokeswoman Andrea Wazir. One child was in critical condition with what San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Joe Arrington called “significant injuries.”
The large branch fell off a cedar elm tree and fell onto a pathway used by zoo visitors between the Wild Australia and the Birds of the World areas of the zoo. The incident occurred during spring break, one of the busiest times of the year for the zoo.
In a prepared statement, the San Antonio Zoo said the incident happened at 12:05 p.m. Zoo security and emergency medical technicians were on site when the branch fell and responded within minutes, said Hope Roth, the zoo’s vice president of marketing.
“We have no record of anything like this happening at the zoo,” Roth said.
It’s unclear if the group of seven was a family or a group visiting the zoo together.
Founded in 1914, the zoo is nestled in Brackenridge Park. It covers more than 50 acres in the heavily treed park bisected by the San Antonio River. Roth said the trees on site receive regular maintenance.
“It was really such an unusual situation that this branch came off of the tree and there would be no way for us to anticipate this branch falling,” Roth said.
The zoo remained open Wednesday, but the area along the guest path where the incident occurred was closed. The bird and Australia exhibits remained open.
Hours after the accident, maintenance crews worked to remove what was left of the tree.
“In an effort to take ultimate precaution, they’re taking the entire tree down,” Roth said.
Zoo President and CEO Tim Morrow said in a tweet Thursday morning that “the safety of our guests, staff and animals is always our highest priority.
“Our gratitude is with the guests, staff and first responders who assisted during this incident, and our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to those injured and their families, as well as those who witnessed the accident.”
