A zookeeper is in critical condition after being mauled by a leopard while working in an enclosure.
The unnamed woman in her 50s could be heard crying out for help over the walkie-talkie, prompting her colleagues to rush to her aid.
She suffered severe head injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital, where she is undergoing treatment, including surgery.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, around 11am at Beekse Bergen Zoo in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands.
According to The Sun, the animals were in the indoor enclosure where they were being kept due to the storm on Friday night.
It’s unclear why the leopard attacked the staff member, as zoo employees stated she was always very alert when it came to safety.
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Head of Animal Care, Martin van Hees, shared: ‘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.’
An investigation into the events that led to the attack is underway, with a zoo staff meeting scheduled for today (Sunday, Oct 25).
Van Hees clarified that they ‘do not know exactly what happened’, but a nearby colleague heard her cries for help and rushed to the scene.
The big cat, believed to be one of the region’s two Persian leopards, will not be put down.
‘We are not going to do anything with the leopard,’ Van Hees continued. ‘It just sat in its enclosure and did what it did. The animal cannot help it.’
The zoo, which offers a camping and safari experience, has not closed after the incident and is set to run its regular hours today.
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