Beekse Bergen Keeper Dies After Leopard Attack

The safari park Beekse Bergen, in the south of the Netherlands, has confirmed that one of its keepers has died after being mauled by leopards. The park said on Tuesday that the keeper had undergone surgery for head and neck injuries before her death.

The attack took place around 11 a.m. on Saturday, according to The Nightly. The keeper was caring for two Persian leopards in an indoor facility at the park. The animals are usually kept away from staff, but had been brought inside because of bad weather.

The keeper had worked at Beekse Bergen for about 40 years. She started there at 17 and worked at the park on and off for four decades. The park is in Hilvarenbeek, according to AD.

Despite her injuries, the keeper alerted colleagues by walkie-talkie. She was taken by helicopter to hospital in critical condition and died days later.

It is not yet clear exactly what happened inside the enclosure. There are no CCTV cameras, the video recording systems often used for monitoring, inside the leopard area. The BBC reports that an independent investigation into the incident will be launched.

The park said the leopards were behaving naturally and will not be put down, a step known as euthanasia. Beekse Bergen also said it will create a memorial location where guests and staff can share condolences for the keeper.