When Carol Junker visited the Pittsburgh Zoo this week, she thought that dolphins were just "friendly fish." She may think differently about them today. Junker reached past a screen to get her arm into the aquarium that contains Chuckles, the only Amazon River dolphin held in captivity in the United States.

Chuckles the Dolphin at the Pittsburgh Zoo

   Junker told members of the media that once she had her arm through a loose screen, she began calling the dolphin's name. Chuckles swam over to where she was standing, and Junker began to pet the dolphin. As she was about to pull her arm back inside, Chuckles bit her hand. She summoned the help of her companion, John Goada of Shaler, who began smacking the dolphin with an umbrella to get it to free her.

   Luckily, Junker escaped with minor cuts and bruises to her hand. In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interview, Junker said that she had no idea that the animal was dangerous, despite the obvious attempts by the zoo to keep people away from the dolphin. "I never would have even known that. Believe me, if I would have known, I never in a million years would have touched him," she said.

   Zoo officials say they don't plan to file charges against Junker for the incident. Chuckles did not suffer any injuries.

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