Tragedy in the largest safari park in the Benelux. The leopards attacked their keeper

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday in the Beekse Bergen safari park, the largest zoo in the Benelux region. The keeper, who was around 50 years old and had been associated with the zoo for many years, was caring for two leopards when she was suddenly attacked by one or both of the predators. On this day, the animals were transported to an indoor room due to bad weather conditions.

It is unclear what exactly happened in the leopard enclosure as there was no CCTV installed there. However, it is known that the woman, despite serious head and neck injuries, managed to alert her colleagues via walkie-talkie. According to a local website, one of her co-workers heard her screams.

The injured woman was transported by helicopter to hospital.

The caregiver's condition was described as critical from the beginning. Doctors performed surgery, but despite their efforts, they could not save her life. On Tuesday, Beekse Bergen Safari Park officially announced her death.

She is a very experienced colleague who has always been very careful when it comes to safety, said Martin van Hees, head of the zoo's animal care department.

The woman's name was not released due to Dutch privacy laws.

A zoo spokesman told local media that the leopards would not be euthanized. They are predators and will remain so, he emphasized.

The garden authorities announced that an investigation had been launched to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy and check whether safety procedures were sufficient and properly followed. This is not the first fatal event in Beekse Bergen - in 2003, a 37-year-old employee died there after being attacked by an elephant.