When an exotic pigeon nearly bit a toddler’s finger off in an aviary at the Baton Rouge Zoo in 2022, BREC had no way of knowing the bird was dangerous, because it had never exhibited signs of aggression before, a judge determined on Thursday.

Baton Rouge District Judge Will Jorden listened to arguments from the parks system as well as rebuttals from a plaintiff attorney representing the toddler’s family.

At the end of the hearing inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse, Judge Jorden sided with BREC and dismissed the family’s lawsuit Thursday morning.

“I think it was close. But close is not the absolute answer. It has to be on point,” Jordan said in granting BREC’s summary judgement motion .

State law says a plaintiff must show that an animal owner had knowledge of a pr

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