A zookeeper is in a critical condition after reportedly being mauled by a panther at Beekse Bergen, the largest wildlife and safari resort in the Benelux region of the Netherlands. The woman, aged in her 50s, was rushed to hospital after being found with severe head injuries on Saturday morning (October 24).
Attack at indoor enclosure
The attack took place at around 11am local time (10am UK time). According to local media, the woman has worked at the animal park for 25 years. She is said to have been attacked by a Persian leopard, which are ranked the largest leopard subspecies in the world, while rounding up the animals at an indoor enclosure.
Following the attack, she cried for help via a walkie-talkie and her colleagues came rushing to her rescue. She was found in the panther enclosure and they called emergency services.
Hospital treatment and investigation
Martin van Hees, Head of Animal Care at Beekse Bergen, said: "At this moment, the woman is in the hospital and is undergoing surgery; her condition is worrying. We know there is a risk when working with dangerous animals, but you never want to experience something like this."
He added: "We are investigating that; we do not know exactly what happened. Her immediate colleague heard the cry for help and rushed to her aid."
Mr van Hees said the woman is a "very experienced animal caretaker" who is always "alert to safety". He described the attack as "tragic".
Panther not to be harmed
Beekse Bergen has two Persian panthers, which were being kept indoors at the time of the attack due to Storm Austen. However, it is unclear which attacked the zookeeper.
Mr van Hees, who was at home at the time of the attack, continued: "But we are not going to do anything with the panther. It just sat in its enclosure and did what it did. The animal cannot help it."
He added: "This is a day you never want to experience, but we know that something like this can happen when you work with dangerous animals."
The attack comes two weeks after William Chapman, 24, died following a tiger attack at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. In the UK, Mr Chapman died after being attacked by a tiger on October 10. He climbed over two fences to enter the enclosure near Doncaster before being killed. An inquest has since heard that the 24-year-old died of "multiple traumatic injuries". The wildlife park confirmed that the tiger involved, named Altai, was uninjured and would not be euthanised.
