Zookeeper seriously injured in big cat attack at Dutch safari park

Zookeeper seriously injured in big cat attack at Dutch safari park It is believed to be the enclosure used by Persian leopards, although the exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear A zookeeper has been seriously injured after being attacked by a big cat inside an enclosure at a safari park in the Netherlands. The animal keeper, who has worked at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands for 25 years, was discovered by a colleague at around 11am on Saturday morning. The keeper had been working inside an indoor enclosure housing two male panthers when the incident happened. She is believed to have come into contact with a Persian leopard, although the exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear. She was conscious when she was rushed to hospital and has since undergone surgery. Park director Rens Willemsen confirmed she had suffered serious injuries, as he expressed his hopes for her recovery. "It is a deeply, deeply sad day," he said to local news outlet RTL. "With all my heart, I hope she recovers. She has serious injuries." The woman had been alone inside the enclosure when her colleague found her injured. The discovery left the colleague extremely shocked, and they have since received support, according to the park director. The keeper is said to be highly experienced, having spent the past eight years working in the predator section at the Brabant wildlife park. Despite her extensive experience, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain a mystery. There are no cameras inside the enclosure, making it difficult to establish exactly what happened. A trauma helicopter was dispatched to the park in Hilvarenbeek as emergency services responded to the incident. Police confirmed the woman's family had been informed. The animals had been kept indoors because of the storm, in accordance with the park's safety protocols. Willemsen highlighted the unpredictable nature of the big cats, describing the Persian leopard as the fastest animal in the world. He added that the big cat would not be put down, saying: "We are not going to do anything with the leopard. It just sat in its enclosure and did what it did. The animal cannot help it.” The attack comes amid renewed attention on the dangers of working with large predators following the death of a man after a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster earlier this month. William Chapman, 24, died on October 10 after entering an enclosure and being attacked by an Amur tiger named Altai. The tiger was not injured and remained in its enclosure following the incident. The latest attack has once again highlighted the risks faced by those who work closely with powerful wild animals, even in controlled environments.