Leopard severely injures a keeper at the Beekse Bergen safari park in the Netherlands

Attack at a safari park

A leopard attacked a staff member at the Beekse Bergen wildlife park in the Netherlands, Gazeta.Ru reports, citing The Sun. On Saturday afternoon, October 24, a keeper aged around 50 entered a closed enclosure with two Persian leopards and was attacked. According to the outlet, the animals had been moved into this enclosure the day before due to bad weather.

Condition of the victim

The woman managed to call for help over the radio — colleagues heard her screams and rushed to the enclosure. She suffered severe head injuries and was taken to hospital in critical condition. The victim underwent surgery; according to media reports, her condition remains serious, the woman was placed into a medically induced coma to recover.

Zoo response and investigation

The cause of the attack has not yet been established. According to head of animal care Martin van Hees, the staff member had always been attentive to safety. The leopard will not be put down. The zoo has continued operating as usual, and the circumstances of the attack are being investigated.

Context and significance

Editorial comment: the incident shows how a change in the animals' usual keeping conditions — in this case, moving the leopards into a closed enclosure because of bad weather the day before the attack — can create risks for staff, even if, according to the head of animal care, the staff member had always been attentive to safety. The event primarily concerns zoo employees and the issue of their safety protocols; the practical consequence of the reported facts is the investigation into the circumstances of the attack, which the zoo is conducting while continuing to operate as usual. The cause of the incident and details of the victim's condition have not yet been reported — this information remains unknown.