Dutch zookeeper dies after leopard attack at safari park

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 19:58 · Archive

A zookeeper at Beekse Bergen Safari Park in the Netherlands died on Tuesday, four days after being mauled by a Persian leopard.

A zookeeper at Beekse Bergen Safari Park in the southern Dutch town of Hilvarenbeek died on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a leopard attack. The woman, whose name has been withheld under Dutch privacy law, was in her fifties and had worked at the park for nearly 40 years since she began employment at age 17.

The attack occurred on Saturday morning while she was caring for two male Persian leopards in an indoor enclosure. The animals had been brought inside due to bad weather, including Storm Austen. She sustained serious injuries to her head and neck during the mauling.

Despite her injuries, the woman managed to alert colleagues via walkie-talkie that she had been hurt. An ambulance and trauma helicopter were dispatched to the park at around 11am local time on Saturday. She was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition and underwent emergency surgery, but her condition worsened on Sunday evening and she died on Tuesday.

The exact circumstances of how the attack occurred remain unclear. There are no CCTV cameras inside the enclosure. Staff are normally kept separated from predatory animals at the park, which raises questions about why the woman was in direct contact with the leopards.

An independent investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances of the incident. The park said in a statement that the keeper's passing deeply affected staff and extended sympathy to her family and loved ones.

It remains unclear which of the two leopards was involved in the attack. A park spokesperson told local media outlet Omroep Brabant that the leopards were behaving naturally. Martin van Hees, head of animal care at the park, said the leopards would not be euthanised. "They are, and remain, predators," the spokesperson said.

The park announced it would create a memorial location for guests and staff members to share their condolences. This incident comes little over two weeks after a man was mauled to death by a tiger in Yorkshire, England, after entering an enclosure at a wildlife park.

How it is being reported

• Dutch zookeeper dies after being mauled in leopard enclosureThe woman began her career at the park when she was 17 and had worked there on-and-off for four decades.BBC News · 27 Oct, 19:30
• Zookeeper dies after leopard savagely mauls her inside animal enclosureThe female keeper, who had worked at Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek for nearly 40 years, was caring for two Persian leopards at an indoor enclosure due to the bad weather, the zoo said in a statement.New York Post · 27 Oct, 19:19
• Zookeeper dies days after she was mauled inside leopard enclosure in Dutch wildlife parkThe woman, who has not been named but was in her fifties, was attacked while caring for two Persian leopards at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek on Saturday morning.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 18:05
• Zookeeper dies after being attacked by leopard, safari park saysThe woman was attacked while caring for two Persian leopards in an indoor facility at the Beekse Bergen park in the south of the Netherlands.CBS News · 27 Oct, 17:33
• Dutch zookeeper dies after leopard attack as investigation launchedThe woman was attacked on Saturday and her death was confirmed on TuesdayIndependent World · 27 Oct, 17:17

In this story: Beekse Bergen Safari Park · Hilvarenbeek · Netherlands · Martin van Hees · Persian leopard

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log