Zookeeper Seriously Injured in Persian Leopard Attack at Dutch Safari Park

A veteran zookeeper was seriously injured on Saturday after being attacked by a Persian leopard at the Beekse Bergen safari park in the Netherlands. The employee, who has worked at the park for 25 years, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery. According to Dutch media reports, the surgery was successful, but her condition remains critical.

According to reports by the NOS broadcaster and the local news site Omroep Brabant, the zookeeper was conducting a routine tour of the predator area at around 11:00 AM alongside a colleague, but was alone in the leopard enclosure at the moment of the attack. Despite her severe injuries, she managed to contact her colleagues via a two-way radio and call for help. Emergency forces, including a medical team arriving by helicopter, were dispatched to the scene.

The injured woman is considered a highly experienced employee and has spent the past eight years caring for predators at the park. According to zoo management, strict protocols prohibit workers from sharing the same space with dangerous animals. "Something went wrong, but we do not know what yet," a park spokesperson stated. He added that there are no security cameras in the enclosure where the incident took place, leaving the circumstances unclear.

The safari park houses two Persian leopards, which were kept in indoor enclosures due to stormy weather. Management does not yet know which of the two animals was involved in the attack, but clarified that the animal will not be euthanized. "It was simply staying in its enclosure and doing what it did. It is not its fault," explained Martin van Hees, the park's animal care manager.

Following the incident, the Dutch Labor Inspectorate launched an investigation, while park management is conducting an internal review to determine how the dangerous encounter occurred. Meanwhile, the victim's colleagues are anxiously awaiting updates on her condition.