Camel Bites Zoo Owner on Head and Drags Him 15ft

A man at the Hemker Park and Zoo near Freeport, Minnesota has been bitten on the head by a camel he was escorting across the premises.

The bite victim was Roger Blenker, 32, who is one of the private owners of the zoo.

According to a news release by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office, on July 13, Blenker was moving the camel along an alleyway in preparation to transport it to a different facility when the humped creature bit him.

"The camel placed Blenker's head into its mouth, biting down on his head. The camel then dragged Blenker by the head approximately fifteen feet," said the release.

Seth Wickson, another employee, rushed to his colleague's aid. According to the news release, Wickson attempted to loosen the camel's bite on Blenker's head by placing a plastic walking board into the camel's mouth. However, after releasing Blenker, the camel then charged at Wickson, before biting him on the head as well. Wickson then released himself from the camel's grip.

Blenker was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital via Life Link Helicopter, while Wickson declined any medical treatment.

"The owner has been examined by the medical providers and per protocol he had to be transferred," said an update on the Hemker Park & Zoo Facebook page. "He has been alert, oriented and able to move around with some minor injuries that are all non-life threatening and is expected to make a full recovery. We want to thank all of the medical providers and the support and prayers from everyone. It is greatly appreciated."

The camel is also uninjured, according to the zoo, with the park remaining open to the public. Newsweek has contacted the zoo for comment.

The zoo has several camels, including both Bactrian and dromedary camels, however, the species of camel that bit Blenker was not specified.

Camel bites are rare in the U.S., mostly occurring in the rutting season from December to March, when males are naturally more aggressive. When human bites do occur, 60 to 70 percent of the time the head and face are injured worst.

According to a 2016 study published in the British Dental Journal, camel bite injuries may "include penetrating and crushing injuries by the camel jaw and blunt injuries when victims are picked up, lifted and thrown by the camel, resulting in fractures and severe lacerations of skin, muscle, tendons and nerves."

The camel's teeth are largely responsible for the trauma caused to the face and head, having vertical tusk-like canines that dig into whatever the camel is biting. When coupled with strong jaw muscles and the fact camels tend to shake their head when attacking, this results in the tearing of soft tissue.