A longtime zookeeper at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands has died after being mauled by a leopard while working in an enclosure, the park announced on Tuesday.
The 50-year-old woman, who had worked at the park for nearly 40 years since age 17, sustained severe head and neck injuries during the attack on Saturday morning. Colleagues found her after hearing her cry for help over a walkie-talkie, and she was airlifted to a hospital for emergency surgery. Her condition deteriorated Sunday evening, and she died on Tuesday, according to the park’s statement.
Key Facts:
- The incident occurred at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek, where two male Persian leopards were being housed indoors due to bad weather.
- The animals were not separated from staff at the time of the attack, which violates standard safety protocols.
- An independent investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances leading to the mauling.
Park Response and Animal Welfare
The park confirmed the leopards were behaving naturally, with a spokesperson stating, “They are, and remain, predators.” The zoo also emphasized that the leopard involved would not be euthanized, as it acted according to its nature.
Martin van Hees, head of animal care at the park, explained that staff are typically kept separate from predatory animals. “In principle, humans and animals are kept separated,” he said. “In this case, however, something happened differently than it should have. She entered the enclosure while the leopards could also access it, and as a result she was caught.”
The park described the victim’s decades of service, noting she began working there at 17 and remained with only brief interruptions. A joint statement from the zoo and her family expressed profound grief, stating, “Her passing deeply affects us all.”
Broader Context and Recent Incidents
The death follows a recent pattern of big cat attacks on zookeepers worldwide. In late 2023, a zookeeper in Thailand was killed by lions after exiting a vehicle at a safari park. In October 2024, a zookeeper in Crimea was mauled to death by lions after a door malfunctioned in their enclosure. Earlier this year, a man in England died after entering a tiger enclosure at a wildlife park, with a coroner noting a history of mental illness.
The Safaripark Beekse Bergen has not disclosed which of the two Persian leopards was involved in the attack. The enclosure lacks internal cameras, leaving the exact sequence of events unclear. The park has pledged full cooperation with investigators.