Veteran zookeeper critically mauled by Persian leopard in Netherlands
A 25-year veteran zookeeper was severely mauled by a Persian leopard at a Dutch zoo and airlifted to hospital.
A zookeeper was severely attacked while caring for two male Persian leopards in an enclosure at Beekse Bergen Zoo in the Netherlands on Saturday morning. The woman, believed to be in her fifties, alerted colleagues and was heard screaming.
Colleagues rushed in, provided first aid, and she was airlifted to hospital. The zookeeper underwent surgery that afternoon.
The zoo's head of animal care said her condition is worrying but surgery went well. The keeper had worked at the zoo for 25 years and with leopards for eight of those.
Zoo staff are being supported. The zoo confirmed the leopards will remain in the enclosure and will not be euthanized.
- Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- Zoo location
- Fifties
- Zookeeper age estimate
- 25 years
- Years at zoo
- 8 years
- Years working with leopards
Why it mattersBig-cat attacks on experienced keepers are rare but show the ongoing dangers of working with large predators.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but the incident echoes a fatal tiger attack at a UK zoo weeks earlier, raising questions about safety protocols in zoos globally.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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